After a long career, Judge Toni Abela presided over his final session this morning, marking his retirement at age 68.
Prime Minister Robert Abela paid tribute, noting: “This morning I attended the last session of Judge Toni Abela who reached retirement age after he served with integrity on bench. The knowledge that he had, he always used it to serve the Republic of Malta.”
A lawyer by training, Dr Abela had a notable political career before being appointed to the bench in 2016.
In 1989, he resigned as President of the Labour Party after taking a principled stand against corruption, and that same year, he co-founded Alternattiva Demokratika alongside Wenzu Mintoff, helping to establish a new voice in Maltese politics.
In 1993, he was elected Deputy Mayor of Ħamrun, continuing his commitment to public service at a local level.
He then returned to the Labour party, as he was elected Deputy Leader (Party Affairs) in June 2008. During his tenure, he helped draft key legislation including the Whistle Blower Act, the Party Financing Act, and the law removing legal immunity for politicians in abuse and corruption cases.
As Judge Abela steps down, the bench prepares for further changes, with fellow Judge Anna Felice expected to retire this week.
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Written By
Nicole Zammit
When she’s not writing articles at work or poetry at home, you’ll find her taking long walks in the countryside, pumping iron at the gym, caring for her farm animals, or spending quality time with family and friends. In short, she’s always on the go, drawing inspiration from the little things around her, and constantly striving to make the ordinary extraordinary.
