According to an article in the Toronto Star last month, a senior judge who was once in the running to become chief justice of the Ontario Court of Justice has been found guilty of judicial misconduct for assaulting and sexually assaulting a woman, according to the findings of a disciplinary panel.
In a brief summary of its decision, a four-member panel of the Ontario Judicial Council said they were unanimous in accepting most of the allegations before them, namely:
– That Ontario Court Justice Paul Currie sexually assaulted and assaulted a woman in January 2023, and then pushed her in April 2023, breaking her wrist;
– That Currie tried to dissuade the woman from participating in the judicial council’s probe;
– That he consumed beer on multiple occasions while driving;
– And that Currie failed to turn himself in for five days in April 2023 on assault charges despite knowing there was a warrant out for his arrest.
These charges are enough to create disappointment and disquiet in a civilized society. Here we will discuss the expectations society has from honourable judges in running the state and society smoothly and decently without setting bad examples.
We see various bad behaviours and misconducts in the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary, and other branches of the government in every country, but any moral misconduct by a member of judiciary is painful and shocking as judges are guardians of the law, who run the country and society according to well-defined limits given in the country’s constitution.
Judges, justice, and judiciary are ancient concepts for providing justice at every level. In Greek mythology, the underworld was the place where souls went after death, and it was ruled by the god Hades, but he had three judges, Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus, to assist him in overseeing the dead and determining their fates, according to deeds. It was believed that judges were honest men of good practice and possessed a high character to dispense justice honestly.
The basic principle practiced by justice systems in Greek, Indian, and Arab civilizations has always been that a judge should maintain and enforce high standards of conduct and should personally observe those standards, so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary are not compromised. This means that the character of a judge has always been a very important pillar in every civilized society. Those judges were chosen on the basis of having the necessary legal knowledge, experience, and good character to perform their duties honestly and effectively.
In all Abrahamic religions, judging is a serious responsibility and not merely a position of prestige or power. The consequences of misjudgment and misconduct are grave in the Hereafter and punishable in this world.
Ali Bin Abu Talib (599-661 AD), the first Imam and fourth Caliph of Muslims, in a letter to Malik al-Ashtar, the governor appointed for Egypt, listed necessary qualities for judges, such as being among the best people, not getting angry easily, admitting mistakes, and not being greedy. He advised against making decisions when angry or sleepy and suggested standing up if feeling infuriated during a session. He stated that “nothing can cause nations to flourish like justice”.
The same parameters and standards are followed in the modern world, especially in Western democracies, as judges are considered role models for a civilized society. The “Ethical Principles for Judges”, a publication of the Canadian Judicial Council, Ottawa, signed by the Chief Justice of Canada, says: “The ability of Canada’s legal system to function effectively and to deliver the kind of justice that Canadians need and deserve depends in large part on the ethical standards of our judges.”
In Toronto, the alleged judge, Paul Currie, told the woman, “Do you know what they’ll do to me? I’m a judge,” a woman testified in court. This is against all standards of justice and judiciary. In the current case, the judiciary should give the alleged judge every chance to defend himself, but now that he has been found guilty, he should be given an exemplary punishment to teach others an unforgettable lesson.
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
