Inquiry Committee commences hearing into judge's conduct

OTTAWA, January 30, 2003 – The Canadian Judicial Council announced today that the Inquiry Committee established to look into the conduct of Mr. Justice Jean-Guy Boilard of the Superior Court of Quebec will commence its hearing at 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2003 in the Federal Court Building, 30 McGill Street, Montreal.

The inquiry was established in response to a letter from the Deputy Attorney General of Quebec, on behalf of the then Attorney General. The Council was asked to consider whether Mr. Justice Boilard's decision to abandon the conduct of the trial over which he was presiding in July 2002 constitutes misconduct, or a failure in the due execution of office, or means that the judge has been placed, by his conduct or otherwise, in a position incompatible with the due execution of his office.

The Canadian Judicial Council must hold an inquiry into a complaint about a judge when requested to do so by the Attorney General of a province or the Minister of Justice pursuant to ss. 63(1) of the Judges Act.

The Inquiry Committee is chaired by the Honourable John D. Richard, Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada. Other members are the Honourable J.J. Michel Robert, Chief Justice of Quebec, and Mr. Michael H. Cain, Q.C., of Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells, Chicoutimi, Quebec, who has been designated by the Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice of Canada.

Mr. Raynold Langlois, Q.C., of Langlois Gaudreau, Montreal, has been appointed Independent Counsel for the inquiry.

At the conclusion of its work the Inquiry Committee will report to the Canadian Judicial Council. The Council will then formulate its own recommendation to the Minister of Justice as to whether or not the judge should be removed from his judicial office. Both the report of the Inquiry Committee and the report of the Council will be submitted to the Minister and made publicly available.

Information about the Council's mandate and process for dealing with complaints regarding judges can be found on its Web site at http://www.cjc-ccm.gc.ca/.

Contact:

Jeannie Thomas
Executive Director
(613) 998-5182