CBA Dublin 2009

Executives from Canada’s two largest judges’ associations addressed CBA Council this morning. Justice Pierre Dalphond, president of the Canadian Association of Superior Court Judges, spoke at length about his organization’s activites and praised the cooperative relationship between the CASCJ and the CBA. But he also expressed frustration with the federal government’s repeated dismissals of the reports of the independent Quadrennial Commission that, among other things, recommends judicial salaries and benefits. Justice Dalphond indicated that his association would strongly consider dropping out of the “Quad Comm” process if the government continued to ignore the commission’s recommendations.

Judge Gerard Meagher, president-elect of the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges, also addressed Council and also praised the CAPCJ-CBA relationship. Chief among the CBA’s contributions was the association’s readiness and willingness to defend provincial court judges who come under personal attack for rendering unpopular decisions. Judge Meagher also noted an excellent article written by CBA President Guy Joubert that strongly encouraged judges to join the CBA. (A copy of the article, first published in the Vox Judicia newsletter, can be obtained here.)