The traditional distinction between fact and law in judicial review is becoming increasingly blurred with recent court decisions on development planning law.
This morning the Court of Appeal held in no uncertain terms:
“Għalkemm interpretazzjoni ta’ fatti hi mhollija fid-diskrezzjoni tat-Tribunal, madankollu meta l-fatti juru stampa differenti minn kif rahom it-Tribunal li inducewh jasal għal konklużjoni legali żbaljata, allura l-Qorti trid bilfors tintrometti ruħha u jsir punt ta’ ligi.”
[Translation: “Although the interpretation of facts is within the discretion of the Tribunal, when the facts present a different picture from how the Tribunal perceived them, which leads it to reach an incorrect legal conclusion, the Court must necessarily intervene, and a legal point must be made.”]
This represents a new threshold that sets a precedent in academic circles.
If all goes according to plan, I will be holding a public discussion on this topic in collaboration with the Faculty of Law in the coming weeks.
