WHAT WAS YOUR PATH INTO LAW AND ONTO THE BENCH?

Before I went to law school, no one in my immediate and extended family worked in the legal field, nor did I personally know any lawyer. I enrolled in law school based on a friend’s suggestion, and on account of my own ignorance about the profession.

I immigrated to Canada in the early 1980s with my parents and my older sister under the sponsorship of my eldest brother who was living in Waterloo at the time. Upon arrival, I began my studies at the University of Waterloo. After finishing my third year at Waterloo with graduation being two semesters away, a friend suggested that I should go to law school to become an immigration consultant so that I could make a lot of money while helping other people at the same time. I jumped at the idea without realizing that I did not have to go to law school to become an immigration consultant! 

WHAT EXPERIENCE IN YOUR LEGAL CAREER BEST PREPARED YOU FOR WORK ON THE BENCH?

I was called to the bar in 1991. For the next 30 years, I worked exclusively in the legal clinic system helping low-income, racialized clients who faced multiple challenges in accessing the legal system. I believe the work I did in the clinic system helped me become more empathetic and more open to appreciating the different experiences that different individuals have with the justice system. It also made me question my own assumptions towards those who do not share my socio-economic, racial, and cultural background. In short, the work at the clinic system helped me build empathy, the willingness to listen and to understand my own limitations and biases, all of which are essential qualities for becoming a judge.

My prior experience as a part-time adjudicator also helped equip me with the skills I need for my current role including decision-writing skill and the ability to manage the proceedings.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR COUNSEL WHO APPEAR BEFORE YOU?

Be prepared. Know your file well. Be civil to other parties and counsel. Do not be disagreeable just because you disagree with the opposing side on a legal point. Check your assumption and biases at the door. Do not confuse strongly held personal beliefs with strong advocacy; advance your arguments based on the facts and the law.

WHAT DO YOU WISH THE PUBLIC KNEW ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM?

The justice system in Canada is founded on certain fundamental principles such as the rule of law, impartiality, fairness, and the independence of the judiciary. These principles help make sure that there are checks and balances in place to keep those in power accountable, without which our democracy will be put at risk. The Canadian justice system is also a work in progress. There are many areas where it can and must do better such as a. finding the right pathway towards reconciliation with the Indigenous Peoples, b. ensuring there is access to justice for all regardless of their background including race, gender, class and other social determinants, and c. building a judiciary that is truly reflective of the diversity of our nation.

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Photo Credit: Andrew Balfour