(Quebec) Judge Joëlle Roy’s “unusual” reaction to a column in La Presse leaves Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette “perplexed.” The Minister of Justice leaves the decision on whether disciplinary sanctions are necessary to the Chief Justice of the Court of Quebec.
Posted at 12:26 p.m.
“I read about it in the newspaper. “These are statements that leave me quite perplexed,” replied Minister Jolin-Barrette after question time on Wednesday. The minister is particularly concerned about the fact that alleged victims of sexual assault were unable to testify during a trial because the judge was unable to sit after the publication of a column by Yves Boisvert.
“I think of the victims who were supposed to go and testify that morning, but the trial did not take place. I am very worried about the victims having to come back and testify,” the minister said.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
Simon Jolin Barrette
I expect the justice system to accommodate this [les victimes] and can view them with respect by ensuring they can testify on the victims’ trial day.
Simon Jolin-Barrette, Minister of Justice
La Presse reported on Wednesday that Judge Joëlle Roy spoke about Yves Boisvert’s column in which he questioned the judgment of the Quebec court judge, whose decisions have been repeatedly overturned by the relevant courts. Judge Roy tearfully gave her answer in the middle of the courtroom last Friday, a day after the text was published.
“I think it’s so unfair. If you believe I am incompetent, file your motion to dismiss immediately,” she told the lawyers. She called the column a “personal attack.” […] very vicious.” She also portrayed herself as a woman who had been a victim of “violence”. Unable to sit, the judge postponed the trial of a man accused of sexually abusing his daughters.
The minister reaffirmed on Wednesday the independence of the judiciary and is therefore relying on the Quebec Court’s order to “analyze the situation”, which he also described as “unusual”. The chief justice “has full powers,” he recalled, without commenting on the content of Judge Roy’s remarks or risking possible disciplinary action.
“In my experience as a minister over the last three years, it is the first time I have seen such a situation,” he said. “There is a separation. The minister has no authority over judges. The judges are independent, they do their work with complete independence […] With all respect for the independence of the judiciary, this must be regulated by the leadership of the court,” he added.
The chief justice’s office had no comment to make as of Wednesday, La Presse was told.
According to the Judicial Code of Ethics, the judge must “show restraint, courtesy and composure.” According to two experts consulted by La Presse, Judge Roy’s “composure” could be called into question. Quebec Court Chief Justice Lucie Rondeau will serve until October 26. His successor is Henri Richard.
With Louis Samuel Perron