By Canadian Press

Justice minister to seek judge’s removal after Supreme Court declines to hear appeal

Feb 25, 2021 | 10:31 AM

OTTAWA — Justice Minister David Lametti says he will seek parliamentary approval to remove a Quebec judge from the bench after the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the judge’s appeal.

A 2012 complaint alleged Quebec Superior Court Justice Michel Girouard, while he was still a lawyer, had bought illegal drugs from a client.

An inquiry committee rejected the allegations but cited contradictions and implausibilities in Girouard’s testimony.

A second complaint about Girouard’s credibility during the initial proceedings led a majority of judges on the council to recommend he lose his job.

The Federal Court and the Court of Appeal dismissed Girouard’s attempts to overturn the recommendation, prompting his application to the Supreme Court.

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As usual, the top court gave no reasons for declining to hear the case.

Lametti said Thursday on Twitter that as the “lengthy process has unfolded, I have made it clear that I fully intended to act if Justice Girouard exhausted his avenues of appeal and the revocation decision was upheld. That moment has arrived.”

The minister said he intends to proceed with Girouard’s removal by seeking the necessary approval of the House of Commons and Senate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2021.

The Canadian Press