I just heard on the news tonight that one of the chief advocates for Jehovah's Witnesses on the Supreme Court of Canada has retired!
The Honourable Madame Justice Claire Heureux Dube has retired from the bench.
She began her career as an articling student for a Montreal based law firm which was used by the Society and the then very young Glen How to defend them in the matters durrounding the actions of the very anti-JW premier (similar to the US governor) of Quebec, Maurice Duplessis.
So as a very young woman she was spoon fed all the rhetoric of the then persecuted JW's. Glen has maintained a regular correspondence with her. Though to her credit she maintained a certain judiciary aloofness in her replies.
However her respect for Glen How (and subsequently the JW's) was extremely manifest in her deference to him in any of his Supreme Court appearances.
That element and any of her potential influence (in favour of the Witnesses) on the other Justices outside of the courtroom has now been removed with her retirement.
I personally think she has been a very good representative of the People of Canada on the Supreme Court but still feel this can work well to the keeping a level playing field in the Supreme Court for any action former JW's may take to this high court.
Kismet
Edited by - Kismet on 10 June 2002 23:43:30
Edited by - Kismet on 10 June 2002 23:43:59