Pubdate: Wed, 09 Jan 2013
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2013 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Graeme Hamilton

JUDGE ON REVIEW FOR ALLEGEDLY BUYING DRUGS

Informant Alleges Magistrates Once Cocaine Buyers

MONTREAL * When Quebec provincial police unleashed Operation Crayfish
in 2010, they boasted of the damaging blow dealt to organized crime in
the province's Abitibi region.

But as cases proceed through the courts after more than 80 arrests and
the seizure of large quantities of drugs, $900,000 cash, weapons and a
helicopter, it is the judicial system that is now coming under scrutiny.

The Canadian Judicial Council announced Tuesday it is reviewing the
conduct of Justice Michel Girouard of the Quebec Superior Court for
the alleged purchase of "an illicit substance from a police informant."

Another judge, Marc Grimard of Quebec Court, is facing a similar
allegation.

On Monday, Chief Justice Elizabeth Corte of the Quebec Court said the
allegation against Judge Grimard is being taken "very seriously" and
he is not being assigned new cases.

Both judges sit in RouynNoranda, about 510 kilometres northwest of
Montreal. Le Devoir reported Dec. 29 an informant in the Crayfish
investigation had recently identified the two judges as customers of
an Abitibi cocaine dealer before they were appointed to the bench -
Judge Grimard in 2004, Judge Girouard in 2010.

Associate Chief Justice Robert Pidgeon of Quebec Superior Court said
the court became aware of the allegation against Judge Girouard when
the provincial prosecution office shared a document at the end of
November. Since then, he has been assigned no new cases and is
performing only administrative tasks, Judge Pidgeon said Tuesday.

He stressed Judge Girouard "firmly denies all the facts that the
informant has said," but declined comment on the specific allegations,
as they are subject of a police investigation.

He acknowledged the allegations of drug purchases could fuel cynicism
about the judiciary.

"Something can happen once in a while, but I think generally we have
good judges, and we have a good justice system," he said.

He added since his appointment by Rob Nicholson, the federal Justice
Minister, Judge Girouard has been a good, hard-working judge.

Chief Justice Francois Rolland of Quebec Superior Court requested the
review of Judge Girouard's conduct by the Canadian Judicial Council.
Possible actions range from a dismissal of the complaint as lacking
merit to a public inquiry that can lead to the judge's removal from
the bench.

"Council will be focusing mainly on whether or not the judge has the
confidence of the public to remain in office," said Johanna Laporte,
the council's director of communications.

"We're not going to be doing police investigative work. That's for
others to do."

As a provincially appointed judge, Judge Grimard's conduct could be
reviewed by Quebec's Conseil de la magistrature, but the organization
does not disclose whether a complaint has been lodged until hearings
are scheduled.

In her statement Monday, Chief Justice Corte said the court is
following the situation closely and "will take appropriate measures"
as required. She expressed her confidence in all judges of the Abitibi
region, "who work daily to render the justice of a high quality to
which those undergoing trial are entitled."

Judge Grimard was a provincial prosecutor in RouynNoranda before being
named to the bench and was head of the regional bar association. Judge
Girouard was in private practice before his appointment, specializing
in business, banking and insurance law. 
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