Just when you thought the G20 couldn’t get even more ridiculous.
Susan Clairmont of the Hamiton Spectator:
Everyone is allowed to take notes in court.
Period.
But the other day a Toronto justice of the peace decided to make up his own rules. He banned “note-taking” in his Etobicoke courtroom where bail hearings were being held for G20 protesters.
It was the latest — and most ridiculous — in a series of bizarre steps taken by court officials to build a big fat wall around the whole judicial process for accused demonstrators.
So much for an open and transparent court system. So much for accountability.
He did what? Can’t someone just slip a note to the chief administrative judge and get this silliness squared away? This is beyond silly and I’ve never known a judge who would tolerate it.
Do not worry, it will only get worse with time.
Although all justices have the inherent right and responsibility to control the activity in the court room, it is usually to ensure that the process is expeditious, non disruptive, and falls within the parameters of the law and due process.
No note taking??? Really?