Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette will amend his bill on the French language to prohibit the Court of Quebec from systematically requiring bilingualism from its judges, his cabinet announced on Monday.
The minister had mentioned this possibility at the beginning of February, after losing a round against the Court of Quebec before the Superior Court.
Mr. Jolin-Barrette strongly opposes the vision of the Chief Justice of the Court of Quebec, Lucie Rondeau, who considers that she can demand bilingualism from candidates for the position of judge for reasons of court efficiency.
In February, the Superior Court ruled against the minister, emphasizing that he does not have to claim a right of inspection in the calls for candidacies of judges.
“At all times, the power to appoint judges has come exclusively from the executive power,” replied Minister Jolin-Barrette’s office on Monday. “The government is responding to the judgment on the bilingualism of judges through legislation. »
He will therefore not appeal the judgment of the Superior Court.
Quebec will instead amend its Bill 96 on the official and common language of Quebec, French, “in order to modify the Regulation respecting the procedure for selecting candidates for the office of judge of the Court of Quebec, judge of a court Municipal Council and Presiding Justice of the Peace as well as the Courts of Justice Act”.
According to the press release sent, the government is thus clarifying the regulations “in order to make the necessary changes to ensure that proficiency in a language other than the official language is not a systematic obstacle to accessing the office of judge in the Quebec. »
Further details will follow.
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