OUR BROKEN JUSTICE SYSTEM

Justice should both be done and seen to be done. Well it isn't and it hasn't been. Carol Goar writes in today's Waterloo Region Record the following Opinion article "Emergency repairs found for a broken justice system.". Ms. Goar is describing our family court system here in Ontario. Her description echoes everything I saw and experienced years ago in my descent into hell ie. our civil law system. If you are independently wealthy and can be represented by a lawyer 100% of the time you can nip in the bud disgusting behaviour by both judges and opposing attorneys. And yes they will take advantage in every way possible, the unrepresented client. Judges will even pretend to be doing the unrepresented party a favour while leaving them and their rights entirely in the dark.

Ms. Goar points out the anachronistic nature of the entire system. She points out the absolutely ridiculous costs involved whether paying for lawyers or even paying court costs on Motions brought by the other party that are blatantly grasping, reaching and or simply irrelevant. Irrelevant at least to the issues in the case although not so much if the idea is simply to drain the other party's pocketbook.

Ms Goar advises of several recommendations that were made by a law professor at the University of Windsor. These would be the "emergency repairs" she refers to. Unfortunately as she indicates they do not "...solve the fundamental problem: courts guarded by a coterie of powerful professionals. But they would make life easier for people seeking justice in a system that treats them as bothersome amateurs.".