An Appreciation - Hon. Justice Emeritus Mifsud Bonnici
I heard, yesterday, that one of the very first lecturers to make an impression on me in law school, has passed on to another life.
Hon. Justice Emeritus Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici, 88 at the time of his passing, was affectionately called "Jojo" by one and all in class, and he was a force to be reckoned with. I still remember him clearly, riling against bureaucracy, indignant at a certain manner of doing things in University and his deep sense of justice - Natural Law and Natural Right.
He was not one to be contraried in class - as I imagine was also the case in court. His temper may have appeared short but he was a righteous man - one who stood up for what was right.
On his subject in our first year at university - the much hated book, Finnis - I was oft in two minds. The author was a pedant, and the book made heavy reading. Convoluted at best. I hated studying it with a passion and found all forms of philosophy repetitive. However, Jojo would bring up humane issues at hand and an in-depth insightful argument about some of the most humane issues arising as we sailed through first year. It was a pleasure to listen to him, even though at that stage we had yet to open our eyes to some of the realities we would face in the justice system.
He didn't teach us again, until we faced him in Ethics class, in our sixth year. Many would miss class, calling it a waste of time but I must say that he intrigued me. No text books but the Constitution and his broad experience as Chief Justice, where he faced some of the best - and worst - tests of the Constitution and violations of human rights, forging ahead with decisions that would change the laws of the land.
I was not fortunate enough to ever sit in his court, for he retired well before I ever entered a courtroom. I was not fortunate enough to begin training in practising law until rather late in law school, and then court work featured little until rather later on. By that time he had retired and moved on to Strasbourg - indeed a well-deserved appointment.
This great man will be remembered as one of the most revered judges of our time, with his profound humanity and sense of justice. He will also be remembered with affection for the way he conducted class - he was very strict in class, and easy to be displeased by our behaviour, which must have seemed, with hindsight, disrespectful, but he could share a joke or an anecdote to ease up the atmosphere from time to time. He also had an innate respect for one and all, which is a rare quality.
My condolences go out to his family and those who were close to him.
Hon. Justice Emeritus Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici, 88 at the time of his passing, was affectionately called "Jojo" by one and all in class, and he was a force to be reckoned with. I still remember him clearly, riling against bureaucracy, indignant at a certain manner of doing things in University and his deep sense of justice - Natural Law and Natural Right.
He was not one to be contraried in class - as I imagine was also the case in court. His temper may have appeared short but he was a righteous man - one who stood up for what was right.
On his subject in our first year at university - the much hated book, Finnis - I was oft in two minds. The author was a pedant, and the book made heavy reading. Convoluted at best. I hated studying it with a passion and found all forms of philosophy repetitive. However, Jojo would bring up humane issues at hand and an in-depth insightful argument about some of the most humane issues arising as we sailed through first year. It was a pleasure to listen to him, even though at that stage we had yet to open our eyes to some of the realities we would face in the justice system.
He didn't teach us again, until we faced him in Ethics class, in our sixth year. Many would miss class, calling it a waste of time but I must say that he intrigued me. No text books but the Constitution and his broad experience as Chief Justice, where he faced some of the best - and worst - tests of the Constitution and violations of human rights, forging ahead with decisions that would change the laws of the land.
I was not fortunate enough to ever sit in his court, for he retired well before I ever entered a courtroom. I was not fortunate enough to begin training in practising law until rather late in law school, and then court work featured little until rather later on. By that time he had retired and moved on to Strasbourg - indeed a well-deserved appointment.
This great man will be remembered as one of the most revered judges of our time, with his profound humanity and sense of justice. He will also be remembered with affection for the way he conducted class - he was very strict in class, and easy to be displeased by our behaviour, which must have seemed, with hindsight, disrespectful, but he could share a joke or an anecdote to ease up the atmosphere from time to time. He also had an innate respect for one and all, which is a rare quality.
My condolences go out to his family and those who were close to him.
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