Petition No.: 15 Signatures: 429 Sign Petition
Fifteenth Legislature (2026- )
Details - Online
Title
Petition Calling for the Abolition of Jury Trials in Criminal Proceedings
Date
15-09-2026
Date petition closes for signatures
05-12-2026
Creator of petition
CHRISTIANA VELLA
Grievance
We, the undersigned petitioners, respectfully draw the attention of the House to the growing limitations and outdated nature of the lay jury system in Malta’s criminal justice framework.
Specifically, we highlight that:
Verdicts are not reasoned. Juries deliver unreasoned verdicts, saying guilty or not guilty, without explaining their legal or factual rationale. This undermines public transparency, leaves victims and defendants without clarity, and severely restricts the ability to mount effective appeals.
Modern evidence is too complex for most people. Criminal trials increasingly involve complex technical, financial, and forensic evidence that requires formal judicial evaluation.
The risk of external influence is too high while sequestration for months renders jurors psychologically unfit to assess all evidence. In a tightly knit population, lay jurors are inherently susceptible to viral campaigns, media coverage, and intimidation, jeopardising the guarantee of an impartial trial.
Specifically, we highlight that:
Verdicts are not reasoned. Juries deliver unreasoned verdicts, saying guilty or not guilty, without explaining their legal or factual rationale. This undermines public transparency, leaves victims and defendants without clarity, and severely restricts the ability to mount effective appeals.
Modern evidence is too complex for most people. Criminal trials increasingly involve complex technical, financial, and forensic evidence that requires formal judicial evaluation.
The risk of external influence is too high while sequestration for months renders jurors psychologically unfit to assess all evidence. In a tightly knit population, lay jurors are inherently susceptible to viral campaigns, media coverage, and intimidation, jeopardising the guarantee of an impartial trial.
Wherefore I/we respectfully request the House of Representatives to
We therefore call upon the House of Representatives to initiate the necessary legislative and constitutional reform to abolish the use of lay juries in criminal trials.
We urge Parliament to transition Malta’s criminal court system toward professional judicial adjudication, such as panels of qualified judges or bench trials, ensuring that every criminal verdict is delivered through a written, reasoned, and fully accountable judgment
We urge Parliament to transition Malta’s criminal court system toward professional judicial adjudication, such as panels of qualified judges or bench trials, ensuring that every criminal verdict is delivered through a written, reasoned, and fully accountable judgment
Closing remarks
Updating our judicial process to eliminate unreasoned verdicts is essential for public trust and legal certainty. We thank the House of Representatives for considering this petition and look forward to parliamentary debate on reforming our criminal court system.