Curriculum Vitae

Mr Justice Francesco Depasquale

 

Francesco Depasquale was born in Attard, Malta in June 1970. He received his primary and secondary education at Stella Maris College, Gżira. In 1988, he obtained a Diploma in Diplomatic Studies and in 1989, he completed his studies at the University of Malta. In 1993, he obtained his Diploma of Notary Public from the University of Malta, and in 1995, he obtained a doctorate in law from the same University with a thesis on the Introduction of a Pre-Trial System in Maltese Courts. In 1996, he obtained a master's degree in Maritime Law (with distinction) by the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). He was called to the Bar in 1996.

While at University, he was Public Relations Officer of the Law Student’s Association (Għ.S.L.) between 1989 and 1991, helped establish the European Law Students’ Association (Malta) in 1991, being its General Secretary from 1991 to 1993 and President in 1993, and eventually elected to the University Students’ Council (KSU) for his final year in University, in 1994.

When called to the Bar, he was Vice President of the Malta Maritime Law Association between 1996 and 2002 and actively involved in the Maltese Chamber of Advocates, holding the posts of Treasurer between 1997 and 1999, General Secretary between 1999 and 2007 and International Secretary between 2007 and 2009, serving also on the Committee for Advocates and Legal Procurators of the Commission for The Administration of Justice between 1999 and 2008.

Prior to his appointment to the Bench of Magistrates, he acted as a litigation lawyer specializing in civil, commercial and family law, acting also as Chief Legal Advisor to the Registrar of Courts between 2006 and 2011.

In August 2006, he was appointed Commissioner for Justice (Central Region), and on 28 April 2011 he was appointed Magistrate for the Islands of Malta and Gozo and assigned duties in the Court of Magistrates (Malta) as a Court of Criminal Judicature, in the Civil Courts (Inferior Jurisdiction), in the Rural Leases Control Board, in the Rent Regulation Board and in the Land Arbitration Board. On 25th April 2019 he was appointed Judge for the Superior Courts of Malta and Gozo and assigned duties in the Civil Court (Constitutional Juridsdiction).

In 2012, he was elected to the committee of the Malta Magistrates' Association, where he served as secretary general until 2020, and in 2022 he was elected president.

In 2007, he was appointed by the Government as Malta’s representative on CEPEJ and in 2010, he became a member of the Working Group CEPEJ-SATURN (Judicial Time Management), a position he still holds today. In 2018, he was elected as Bureau Member of the CEPEJ. In December 2022, he was elected as President of the CEPEJ for the next two years.

 

14th January 2023