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More thoughts on yesterday’s release of judicial expenses:
https://www.fja.gc.ca/JudgesExpenses-DepensesJuges/index-eng.html
It’s true that information is aggregated such that it is not possible to conduct a detailed review of any particular judge’s expenses/category. Don't think that is the right evaluative test 1/9
https://www.fja.gc.ca/JudgesExpenses-DepensesJuges/index-eng.html
It’s true that information is aggregated such that it is not possible to conduct a detailed review of any particular judge’s expenses/category. Don't think that is the right evaluative test 1/9
I agree default here should be transparency & openness. These are fundamental values to all of our public institutions, including courts. But those aren't the only values. 2/9
Valid concerns about the safety of judges have been raised. Others have pointed out that judges, given their role, are not in a position to defend/explain their expenses. By presenting expenses information at a court level, I think that these concerns are largely addressed. 3/9
I also think that, once we get past the idea that the value of the disclosure lies in the public being able to conduct detailed audit of judicial expenses, there is lots of other educational value here to be capitalized on. 4/9
Some of the most interesting information in this report may, in fact, not be in the dollar figures themselves but in the surrounding context. For example, the disclosure helps to explain the existing rules and guidelines around judges’ expenses. 5/9
There is also interesting information about the types and diversity of educational events that Canadian judges attend. 6/9
I don’t think the numbers are irrelevant but what is the best way to use the numerical information provided remains to be seen. This is first disclosure & likely to be anomalous because some expenses categories like travel and conferences are impacted by COVID-19. 7/9
More broadly,I think that balance struck in this disclosure is positive development towards more openness & transparency in info about the Canadian judiciary and court system. We can provide more info in a contextually sensitive way without sacrificing other important values. 8/9
Canada's judiciary & judicial institutions are strong enough to withstand more scrutiny and there are responsible and meaningful ways to facilitate this by providing more data to the public 9/9
