The reassignment of Judge Robert Mangion to the Civil Court after he served in the Family Court for six years is being seen as a loss by some specialists in family law and child welfare.
The reassignment is part of what appears to be the biggest shakeup in the Family Court since its inception in 2003.
The complement of judges will increase from two to three in response to their increased workload.
Dr Mangion, who has only served in the Family Court since being appointed as a judge in 2012, has over the years earned respect among specialists for his fairness, diligence and child-centred approach in setting care arrangements for children after marital separation.
Lawyers who spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta also characterised him as organised and hard-working.
Asked to confirm or deny the rumours swirling in legal circles that Dr Mangion was himself the one who asked for reassignment, Chief Justice Joseph Azzopardi merely said that “it is normal for judges to be assigned to a different section of the court after a number of years presiding over the Family Court”.
Judge Abigail Lofaro is set to stay put in the Family Court, even though she has served there longer than Mr Justice…
