Contrary to the oligarchic perception that Canadian judges must not take interest in our social conditions(2), Judge Turpel-Lafond has spoken at a national aboriginal policing conference held in Regina. The judge has pointed out that the generation of Indians suffering from the "residential school syndrome(3)" is socially deprived and they are lost to alcoholism and they are raised in foster homes. And this is why she has stated that if the criminal justice system doesn't address a profound crisis we could very easily have a society whose main industry is a prison industry, where essentially two-thirds of the population will have as its business locking up the other one-third(4).

At a time when Honourable Janice McKinnon(5)(6) trumpets our phony economic renewal and says that Saskatchewan led the country in economic growth for much of the last decade and was the only province in Canada to actually reduce our child poverty rate(7), it is consoling to have Judge Turpel-Lafond taking side for the common people and for the common law. Let us hope we can make some social progress and have more judges taking an interest in the social advocacy shown by Judge John Reilly and Judge Turpel-Lafond.

Endnotes

1. Judge John Reilly is a hero: a reaffirmation of individual rights, by Mario deSantis, September 6, 2000

2. The National Post and Judge John Reilly, by Mario deSantis, September 7, 2000

3. No support by law societies in residential school crisis, lawyer says 'Walking on eggshells', Richard Foot, October 13, 2000, National Post. An excerpt: Both the federal government and four Christian churches are being sued by natives who say they suffered a range of wrongdoing, including sexual abuse, as students forced into government-owned and church-run Indian schools. Although few cases have been tested in court, the liabilities for taxpayers could run into the billions of dollars.

4. Judge wants help for 'profound crisis', by Barb Pacholik, October 14, 2000, The Leader-Post, Regina, Saskatchewan

5. Honourable Janice MacKinnon: debating the economic underdevelopment of Saskatchewan, by Mario deSantis, February 9, 2000

6. Honourable Janice MacKinnon and the NDP Government: Spin-doctoring the Truth, by Mario deSantis, February 21, 2000

7. NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY RELEASED FOR CONSULTATION, News Release, Saskatchewan Government, Economic and Co-operative Development -547, September 14, 2000

References

Chatelaine Magazine gives a point form biography of the judge calling her "the Bright Stuff"

Sentencing within a Restorative Justice Paradigm Procedural Implications of R. V. Gladue this is heavy reading but indicates the direction Judge Turpel-Lafond is directing our attention in this paper she has produced.

Free Speech fo Judges: Turpel-Lafond's comments spark controversy in leagal circles, May 5, 1999 Star Phoenix.