In Canada, 42 Christian and pro-life organizations, and one individual, have filed a complaint with the Canadian Judicial Council seeking removal of Canadian Supreme Court Justice Beverly McLachlin. The Province reports that the complaint stems from the fact that McLachlin chairs the Order of Canada Advisory Council. Last month abortion activist Henry Morgentaler was honored with appointment to the Order. The groups say that McLachln's role in the selection reduces respect for her and the judiciary. Some express concern that tthe appointment may influence the results in reproductive rights cases.
UPDATE: Canwest News Service reported on Saturday that at he annual Canadian Bar Association news conference, Chief Justice McLachlin addressed the Morgentaler controversy. She said that she chairs the Order of Canada Advisory Council only because the law requires her to do so, that her policy is to not promote any particular candidate, and to abstain from voting. She sees her role as merely assuring that the meeting runs properly and the voting process is fair--unless, as was not the case with Morgentaler, she needs to break a tie.
