Canada's highest judge: the rule of law has to be protected judge, rule, law, Canada, highest

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Says people's ability to use the justice system is being undermined by delays and high costs
Dan Burritt Oct 08, 2010 16:26:41 PM
Be the first to Comment  3 Recommendation(s) VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Canada's Supreme Court Chief Justice says governments and the courts need to do a better job of ensuring equal access to justice, as BC crown prosecutors tour the province getting ideas on how to improve legal aid.

Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin says Canada has a problem. Ideally, we can all get a lawyer and use the courts, but that ideal is hitting high costs, delays and complicated legal procedures.

She says access to justice is the hallmark of a stable, peaceful society. "Without access to justice, individuals will turn to extra-legal and violent means to solve their disputes. Public confidence in the judiciary and legal system will be undermined."

McLachlin notes security concerns in a post-9-11 world mean we have to keep people safe, but still respect human rights. "When Guantanamo Bay was set up, it was a great reassurance, I think, to those of us in the free world, to realize that the Supreme Court was there for people in that situation."

She says if we don't maintain the rule of law, terrorists get what they want, destruction of the rule of law.