Ch.6, Legal Profession

Question 1

What are the dangers of electing judges?

Answer 1

-Dangers of electing judges: worried about public image/reelection, can be run by other powerful individuals based on campaign

Question 2

What are the dangers of government-appointed judges?

Answer 2

Dangers of government-appointed judges: government could increase power by appointing judges of same political ideology, they do not represent the people, this introduces partiality of the judges

Question 3

Define the Thomas Berger Affair and its implication for justices.

Answer 3

Thomas Berger Affair: publicly criticized government during talks dedicated to Indigenous self-government, advocated for better Indigenous self-government (violates impartiality, there is supposed a wall between government and the judiciary)

Question 4

How does Canada appoint judges?

Answer 4

federally, under powers of section 91 and 92

Question 5

Define the Lori Douglas affair and its implications for justices.

Answer 5

Lori Douglas Affair: failure of judge to disclose sex scandal involving husband/client which included nude photos of her posted to a website to solicit sexual partners

Question 6

What are the reasons a judge may be removed from the bench?

Answer 6

-Incompetence, political intervention, failure of disclosure: three reasons a judge may be removed from the bench