And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 17:02:13 -0400
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Lynne Moss-Sharman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: JUDGE REILLY August 19, 1999
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Thursday 19 August 1999
Public to pay judges' legal bill
Reilly fight costs $300,000
Bob Beaty, Calgary Herald
Alberta taxpayers will be on the hook for up to $300,000 after a court
ordered the province to pick up the tab for Judge John Reilly who was
involved in a legal battle with his boss. The ruling from Court of Queen's
Bench Justice Blair Mason effectively forces the Alberta government to pay
all of Reilly's $136,000 legal bill for his fight against former provincial
court chief Judge Ed Wachowich.
Reilly successfully fought an order by Wachowich to move from his Canmore
base back to Calgary. The province also acknowledged on Wednesday that it
has already covered Wachowich's bill. Reilly's lawyer, Alan Hunter, said
Wachowich's tab would equal or exceed
Reilly's $136,000.
A spokesman for a taxpayers' group called the decision a black day for the
public purse. Mitchel Gray, Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers
Federation, said the government should look at other ways to resolve
disputes rather than taking the expensive court route. "From a taxpayer's
perspective it is certainly a dark day," he said.
The battle between the judges climaxed in May 1998 when Wachowich
ordered Reilly transferred to Calgary provincial court from Canmore.
Reilly responded by asking for a judicial review, saying the transfer order
was a disciplinary measure prompted by his controversial statements over
living conditions on the Stoney reserve west of Calgary.
He raised a number of damning allegations of abuse of leadership on the
Stoney reserve, demanding an inquiry into conditions. The move shocked
provincial and federal politicians. Reilly's lawyer, Alan Hunter,
successfully argued in front of Mason last April that Wachowich was
trampling on Reilly's constitutionally protected right as a judge to be
free from administrative interference. Mason rejected Wachowich's transfer
order. Reilly then returned to Mason's
court seeking to have Wachowich -- or the province in whose stead he was
acting -- pick up his legal bill. Mason's original ruling on the transfer
order is now under appeal.
Alberta Justice spokesman Bob Scott said until the appeal on Mason's
fundamental decision is heard, the provincial government won't be paying
Reilly's legal bill. "I think it is very unfair," Hunter said of the
government's decision to withhold payment to Reilly until the appeal court
decision. "It's just part of the hanging people out to dry," Hunter said of
the general government attitude toward its judiciary.
Liberal justice critic Sue Olsen, MLA for Edmonton Norwood, said the legal
tabs for Wachowich and Reilly will easily ring up to $300,000.
Justice Minister Dave Hancock could not be reached for comment.
"Let Us Consider The Human Brain As
A Very Complex Photographic Plate"
1957 G.H. Estabrooks
www.angelfire.com/mn/mcap/bc.html
FOR K A R E N #01182
who died fighting 4/23/99
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.aches-mc.org
807-622-5407
