Posted on 01/06/2017 9:23:57 PM PST by nickcarraway
The Hamilton judge who wore a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat in court has been banned from trying cases
Justice Bernd Zabel, who declared his support for Donald Trump in court, is no longer presiding in court, according to a spokeswoman for the Ontario Court of Justice.
A Hamilton judge who wore a “Make America Great Again” hat to court the day after the U.S. election and declared his support for president-elect Donald Trump is no longer hearing cases.
Justice Bernd Zabel, appointed to the bench in 1990, stopped being assigned new cases on Dec. 21, 2016, a spokeswoman for the Ontario Court of Justice told the Star in a brief statement Thursday.
“I am not able to provide other details. The Chief Justice is not able to comment further on this matter,” said spokeswoman Kate Andrew.
As first reported by The Globe and Mail, Zabel showed up for court the morning after the Nov. 8 election wearing a red “Make America Great Again” ball cap. The Globe reported he then placed the hat on the bench in front of him. Critics said this showed a lack of impartiality, crucial to the role of a judge.
Almost a week later, Zabel apologized for wearing the hat, acknowledging in court that it was a “lapse in judgment” and “a breach of the principles of judicial office.” He said it was his attempt at humour.
“This gesture was not intended in any way as a political statement or endorsement of any political views, and, in particular, the views and comments of Donald Trump. I very much regret that it has been taken as such,” he said.
But the sincerity of his apology came into question when the Star obtained a transcript showing that Zabel explicitly said he supported Trump in court on Nov. 9.
“Brief appearance with the hat. Pissed off the rest of the judges because they all voted for Hillary, so. I was the only Trump supporter up there but that’s OK,” Zabel said just before court closed, according to the certified transcript.
Following the reports of Zabel wearing the hat, a number of individuals and organizations, including the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, made formal complaints about the judge to the Ontario Judicial Council, which has the power to investigate judges’ conduct and suspend them or recommend to the Attorney General that they be removed from office.
The council has yet to indicate the outcome of those complaints.
“It’s clear that the Office of the Chief Justice has taken the complaints seriously,” said lawyer Daniel Brown, a Toronto director of the CLA.
“It’s an appropriate response given the nature of the complaints and should continue until a full investigation is complete.”
Counsel with cases before a judge who’s no longer presiding in court must wait for direction from the Crown’s office, Peter Boushy, a Hamilton defence lawyer noted, but declined to speak specifically about the Zabel matter.
A case could be reheard or continue with another judge handling the proceedings, Boushy said.
All complaints filed to the Ontario Judicial Council are assigned to a two-person subcommittee made up of a judge and a community member for a private investigation.
The resulting report is then put before a four-person panel for review.
From there, the complaint can be dismissed, referred to the Chief Justice of Ontario (who will speak to the judge), or examined in a formal public hearing.
There’s no timeline for when the panel must reach a decision.
If a judge is found to have committed professional misconduct by the judicial council, possible sanctions include a reprimand, suspension or recommendation to the Attorney General that the judge be removed from office.
On the other hand, I presume that all the useful idiots who wear Castro or Che T-shirts to work are still there.
Justice Bernd Zabel, appointed to the bench in 1990...
I’m sure he has a nice pension and couldn’t give a ####.
Trouble with lawsuits in Canada are, I think, they are pay as you go.
I dont know if they have that 1/3 fee upon victory thing going on.
Cause he could have a lawsuit in the making.
MAGA!!
Canada has become another crap hole country. Maybe if our “celebrities” all go there, they can finish the place off.
Nothing short of Leftwing tyranny. Canada can truly suck ass at times.
Import the judge and make him Ambassador to Canada.
I say give that gent a H1B and appoint him as an US immigration judge in charge of Canadian hearings. MAGA BABY!
I like your idea too.
The tyranny of the Left want to Make America Irrelevant Permanently.
“Brief appearance with the hat. Pissed off the rest of the judges because they all voted for Hillary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Canadian judges voted for Hillary?
What caught *MY* eye was the sentence “everyone else voted Hillary, I was the only Trump supporter in the room.”
What are Canadian judges doing voting in US elections, unless it was a mock vote held in-house only?
I would love to be the ambassador to Canada.
I’ve studied the country from down here through its media and visited as a tourist five times.
My mission as ambassador would include drawing attention to the denial of freedom of speech and religion that goes on in Canada today.
>> My mission as ambassador would include drawing attention to the denial of freedom of speech and religion...
And a problem that extends throughout all of Western Europe and the territories influenced by the honorable Queen of England.
I'll assume he meant 'supported' and not 'voted', otherwise there would be problems greater than his wearing a MAGA hat.
if being craphole means I can go to the airport to pick up my luggage without betting my ass shot off...I will gladly take that rap....If being craphole means we can have a change of Government without rioting in the streets, I will take that rap as well..I could go on , but I doubt you would get the message
lol
you know what? He might just get an expedited visa and a position just to tweak Canada :)
He’s saluting the USA, not vowing to do away with Canadian law. Those are two different issues.
Think he might get a call from Donald Trump... “hey we got an opening here on a Federal court. how would you like to switch countries?”
I’d LOVE that!!
Can anyone explain to me why Judges in Canada are voting for Trump or Hillary?
Could it be Ontario, CA? I know the paper is from Toronto, but this is really stupid.
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