I've been quietly ignoring the Harper Government's decision to place a police representative on the committees which recommend judicial appointments (see story here). The issue is in the news again today as the Commons Justice Committee heard from legal scholars (that is, people who actually think about and study such things) about the issue. These legal scholars told the committee that this is a bad idea, and runs the risk of tainting the appointments process.
Well, ah, how do you say it... oh, right, "duh". How on earth can that not be obvious to everyone? Having the police - those who investigate the crimes judges,well, judge - makes about as much sense as having convicted felons involved in recommending judicial appointments. Now, I know someone out there is yelling "How dare he compare the police to convicted felons". But the point is this: the police, in a free and democratic society, should have no more role in judicial appointments than do convicted felons. That is to say, they should have none.
