Recently a judge in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada found a consortium `not guilty' of distributing illegal drugs, despite the federal law that says illicit drugs are illegal. The judge stated that he didn't think the law was just and that the federal government should rewrite the law.
This is my view on that.
Judges judge.
Judges decide if the accused is innocent or guilty.
The judgment is based on evidence presented.
The judgment is untainted by the judge's personal feelings or anything happening outside the courtroom.
Judges are employed by the people of Canada to judge. They are not employed to make, change, interpret, or criticize laws.
Laws are made and changed within the house of Commons by Members of Parliament who have been hired, elected, by the people of Canada, to do that task.
Justice Ian Pitfield, in making his public statement in regards to the `PHS Community Services', case has overstepped the bounds of his employment.
Laws, such as those against drugs, or drug dealers, have been passed in the house of commons, at the request of the citizens of this country, for our protection.
Judges are paid to uphold such laws, not to criticize them.
Imagine the example this sets for the rest of the populace. Any time a person wishes to break the law, their defense will be, `I don't have to obey that law because I don't like that law. Tell Ottawa to change it'.
If Mr. Pitfield, I use the term `Mr.' instead of the title `Judge' because he has lost the rights to that title, wishes to have a law altered, he, like you, or I, may write to his Member of Parliament and ask for said change.
