No more heartfelt cries about judicial delays, staff shortages and vacant positions. Make way for caution and optimism. The chief justices avoided addressing the major issues of the judicial system on Thursday, but did call for better state funding.
In front of dozens of lawyers and magistrates, the chief justices of Quebec’s courts delivered their annual speeches on Thursday morning at the Montreal courthouse on the occasion of the start of the judicial year, an event organized by the Montreal Bar. These speeches are an opportunity for the chief justices to present their vision of justice.
Last year, the chief justices of the Superior Court and the Court of Appeal expressed great concern about the state of the justice system. “The situation is serious,” warned Marie-Anne Paquette, chief justice of the Superior Court of Quebec, deploring the interminable delays in civil matters.
This year, the chief justices did not raise the issue of judicial delays, service disruptions and the exodus of judicial staff. No mention, either, of the interminable project of digitizing court registries.
From the outset, Chief Justice Paquette announced that her speech would be “beige” and without “shattering declarations.” She was particularly pleased with the tabling of the Superior Court’s first “strategic plan,” a document that she proudly displayed before her peers.
It was with euphemisms on the subject of cars that Chief Justice Paquette called on governments to invest more in justice.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Marie-Anne Paquette, Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec
“We need the provincial government’s cooperation to put gas in our car, or if we want to be modern, to charge our battery. We also need the federal government’s support to continue to have enough drivers ready to take the wheel. Ministers of Justice, your contributions are essential,” said the Chief Justice of the Superior Court.
Quebec Court of Appeal Chief Justice Manon Savard recalled that the financial resources granted to her court have been stagnating “for too many years.” A situation that prevents her from implementing certain initiatives to make justice more effective for the benefit of lawyers and the public.
“The lemon cannot be squeezed endlessly. It must be said with conviction: the Court of Appeal is not a simple expense, but an investment in democracy. I hope that this investment will materialize as soon as possible,” said the Chief Justice of Quebec.
The role of the Court of Appeal is not to make “popular” or “populist” decisions, but to apply the rule of law, insisted the chief justice, highlighting a certain erosion in the credibility granted to institutions.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
The chief justices of the Quebec courts delivered their annual speeches on Thursday morning on the occasion of the return to court at the Montreal courthouse.
“Every time a party disappointed by an unfavourable judgment attributes political motivations, every time it is accused of a bias incompatible with its duty of impartiality, the public’s entire trust is eroded. These attacks are not trivial; they have a real and cumulative social cost,” said Chief Justice Savard.
Appointed last October by the Legault government, the new Chief Justice of the Court of Quebec, Henri Richard, was particularly positive. His speech praised the merits of the “partnership” and stressed the importance of the “humanity” of judges. He spoke of the “wind of change” at the Court of Quebec and the recent appointment of dozens of judges.
Let us recall that the former chief justice, Lucie Rondeau, was at loggerheads with the Minister of Justice Simon Jolin-Barrette.