Letter to the editor
January 19, 2006
Canadians shouldn’t reach hasty conclusions about the judiciary based on a politician's comments made during the heat of an election campaign.
Politicians may be tempted to score easy political points by attacking judges who can't defend themselves in public debate. Canadians count on an independent judiciary to guard rights under the constitution, to protect the rule of law and to uphold the democratic process. There is not one iota of evidence that any Canadian judge has rendered a decision based on his or her own social agenda, or that of the party appointing them. It damages the integrity of the justice system to suggest otherwise.
Other countries look to our judiciary as a model. The least Canadians can expect is for their leaders to stand up for our judges and to build respect and public confidence in our judicial system.
Brian A. Tabor, Q.C.
President
Canadian Bar Association
