THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ADVISORY COUNCIL has done an excellent job and completely transformed Ontario’s judiciary resulting in diverse and highly qualified appointments. Now Doug Ford and Doug Downey “would reinstate a discredited process that hearkens back to a time when judicial appointments were handed out like loyalty prizes to cronies and ideological fellow travellers.” Thank you for speaking up and raising awareness, Michael Lacy.

Any notion that this plan would result in a pool of better or more-diverse judges is flat-out delusional. The conceit that a politician’s wisdom can supplant that of a diverse, highly experienced committee of judges, lawyers and public representatives is counterintuitive. The current system is already guaranteed to produce a list of top jurists.

Source: Ontario’s judicial integrity at risk with Doug Ford, Doug Downey scheme | The Star

Ontario’s attorney general says the government could change the way judges and justices of the peace are appointed. I have not heard a call for change and having personally participated in the process more than once I am not aware of a problem. With a history of questionable non-judicial appointments, one has to wonder why Premier Ford is making this an issue.

Ontario’s attorney general says the government could change the way judges and justices of the peace are appointed.

Source: Ontario government considers changes to judicial appointments process, AG says

WHY DO WE WEAR GOWNS IN COURT? – “The centuries-old tradition of gowning in court is overdue for a modernization.” Yes, it is tradition but the Canadian Bar Association is advocating for exceptions such as pregnancy or other personal circumstances, such as medical conditions or disabilities. I ask why we, now well into the 21st century, continue to wear gowns at all.

pregnancy or other personal circumstances, such as medical conditions or disabilities.

Source: Canadian Bar Association – Women Lawyers Forum advocates reform to gowning policy in courts

PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES – Do we have them or not? Does an accused person have the right to participate in the selection of the jury that is going to try him? Nobody knows. It makes it extremely difficult to pick a jury. This is an excellent example of how hard cases make bad law.

An Ontario Superior Court ruling found disallowing peremptory challenges would violate Charter rights

Source: Lawyers wrestle with conflicting views on peremptory challenges

IMMEDIATE ROADSIDE SUSPENSION FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING (MANITOBA) – It looks like in Manitoba they are not using the criminal justice system to deal with routine impaired driving offenders but rather using provincial road safety legislation to impose immediate sanctions. It is an interesting approach even though there are a lot of problems with it such as being “road justice” delivered entirely by police officers with no opportunity to defend or challenge the decision, or being punished for being in the warn range even though it is not a criminal offence, or if you don’t own a vehicle you cannot comply with the ignition interlock requirement, or ….

Source: Impaired drivers will lose their vehicles immediately under new sanctions | CBC News