Statement by the Canadian Judicial Council regarding the Inquiry in to the conduct of the Honourable Lori Douglas

Ottawa, 24 November 2014 –The Honourable Lori Douglas has informed the Canadian Judicial Council that she has given notice to the Minister of Justice of Canada of her decision to elect early retirement, effective May 2015. 

At a hearing of the Inquiry Committee constituted to undertake a review of her conduct, the judge's counsel asked that the proceedings of the committee be stayed in light of the judge's decision to elect early retirement. After hearing from Independent Counsel, the Inquiry Committee has decided to stay its proceedings pending the judge's retirement in May 2015. 

The Canadian Judicial Council respects the decision of ACJ Douglas to retire and agrees that the public interest would not be served by further expending public funds for legal proceedings when the judge is retiring in 6 months.

Some of the issues arising from this matter have given rise to actions before the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. The Canadian Judicial Council agrees with ACJ Douglas that the public interest would not be served by pursuing these current actions before the courts. We also agree that there is no public interest in pursuing the review of other complaints currently pending against ACJ Douglas.

Council notes that no conclusions should be drawn about the merits of the allegations against ACJ Douglas or about the issues raised in the current court proceedings.

Contact: 
Norman Sabourin
Executive Director and Senior General Counsel
(613) 288-1566 ext 302