Canadian Politics Today

This judge gets 30 day suspension without pay for wearing this stupid hat as he presided over court cases. Were it up to me I'd kick his ass off the bench forever. I notice on "the other place" the usual right wingers were giggling and complaining as only they can do. Apparently there is not a lot of legal knowledge among that crowd as they think it's OK for the judicial system to be swayed by politics. Very sad.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/zabel-hat-decision-1.4285487

Would you have "kicked his ass off the bench forever" if he was wearing an Obama or Justin Trudeau hat?  Me thinks you wouldn't call it a "stupid hat" then?  You're mainly just offended by Trump's politics therefore the judge must never work again because he was being offensive & must be silenced & punished harshly.  I don't think think political hats should be worn in the court, but it seemed more like a gag than anything.  He should have been warned, maybe dock him a week's pay at most.

Me thinks if Hillary Clinton won the election and he came in the next day wearing an "I'm With Her" hat few would have cared, minus a few right-wingers in the media who would complain & force their hand where he would have likely been verbally reprimanded or a statement made.

We know that judges are humans and have their own opinions, beliefs, and biases.  The issue here is not being a Trump supporter, it is of creating the appearance of bias.

This is was a mistake, but not a firing mistake.  Chill the **** out.

 -k

Would you have "kicked his ass off the bench forever" if he was wearing an Obama or Justin Trudeau hat?  Me thinks you wouldn't call it a "stupid hat" then?  You're mainly just offended by Trump's politics therefore the judge must never work again because he was being offensive & must be silenced & punished harshly.  I don't think think political hats should be worn in the court, but it seemed more like a gag than anything.  He should have been warned, maybe dock him a week's pay at most.

Me thinks if Hillary Clinton won the election and he came in the next day wearing an "I'm With Her" hat few would have cared, minus a few right-wingers in the media who would complain & force their hand where he would have likely been verbally reprimanded or a statement made.

Apparently you didn't get the jist of what I said. It's about showing support for any political party on the bench where that is not allowed. Yes I would have kicked his ass off the bench no matter who's hat, t shirt etc. he was showing.

If you have to come face to face with such a judge I hope you'll chill the **** out. YOU may, but you shouldn't.

The review board looked at the facts and the long record of the judge and concluded it was poor attempt at joke rather than a reflection of bias. He was punished because such jokes are not appropriate for the courtroom but the punishment had to be proportional to the offence. Losing his job would have been disproportionate.

It's quite important that we have faith in our judicial system. A sitting judge showing that lack of judgement erodes that faith. How do we know that even if this guy leaves his hat at home he won't bring political bias with him?

I suggest you read the 25 page report that the committee who investigated this very issue produced. They concluded that he did not 'bring his bias' into the courtroom.

I suggest you read the 25 page report that the committee who investigated this very issue produced. They concluded that he did not 'bring his bias' into the courtroom.

They actually concluded he hadn't shown this type of bias previously during his career. Also at the end of this particular session he was caught on the audio saying he was the only judge who supported Trump and that all the other judges supported Hillary. Assigning your colleagues on the bech political affiliations is another no no.   

If you have to come face to face with such a judge I hope you'll chill the **** out. YOU may, but you shouldn't.

Well, she's blonde. If she's sufficiently cute she should HOPE to come face to face with such a judge, since he'd probably just pat her on the head and send her on her way.