ONE JUDGE APPROPRIATELY CHASTISED: IT SHOULD HAPPEN MORE OFTEN

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story titled "Trial judge chastised for online sleuthing". What gets me is the apparent ignorance and arrogance of the judge in that he totally violated the basic principle that judges and jurors must make their judicial decisions based solely upon evidence presented in court. This judge (Timothy Ray) of the Superior Court did his own independent research into the facts of the case after the trial was over and prior to his Decision being released. That is both outrageous and patently illegal.The Ontario Court of Appeal has thus ordered a new trial for the defendant in the case. I would suggest that more scrutiny of judges' behaviour would lead to more revelations of outrageous judicial behaviour.