In a judicial system where peoples lives are determined by questionable appointments it is hard to disagree with the essence of Christie Blatchfords column in the National Post: Theres A Better Way to Pick Judges. fullcomment.nationalpost/2014/06/23/want-to-see-more-female-judges/?__federated=1 Indeed, there must be a better way. As Ms. Blatchford wrote: Lawyers apply in secret to the various judicial advisory committees across Canada, which are always composed of other, well-connected lawyers and well-connected party hacks (and one cop, or member of law enforcement, who frankly must occasionally long to draw their service revolvers); all the names are secret; all the meetings are secret and any notes of the meetings are shredded; and the only applicants who ever find out how they did are those who get the nod. Judge-picking is far more about the names which get by these committees, or which are sunk by them, than it is about the justice minister (whether Mr. MacKay or anyone else) and the government of the day. Secrets. Dirty, back door little secrets that undermine transparency in a system where transparency should be made obvious. I think Ms. Blatchford for this article and truly hope that somebody outside of the legal system will continue to unravel the dirty little mysteries that pervade our justice system. For every time a person is convicted, or even acquitted, one must be left to wonder about the propriety of that outcome. Sometimes people go to jail. Often times people get a criminal record. Sometimes people are acquitted. Sometimes our constitutionally protected interests are obliterated. Who is making those decisions? And why?
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 23:58:15 +0000
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