Federal Court of Appeal refers the case of Justice Cosgrove back to the Inquiry Committee

Ottawa, 13 March 2007 – The Federal Court of Appeal delivered a judgment yesterday setting aside the decision of the Federal Court, released on 26 October 2005, which had declared invalid the power of a provincial attorney general to require that an inquiry be held into the conduct of a judge.

In allowing the appeal, the Federal Court of Appeal refers the investigation into the conduct of Mr Justice Cosgrove back to the Inquiry Committee convened by the Canadian Judicial Council.

The Federal Court of Appeal's decision is available on the Court's website at: http://decisions.fca-caf.gc.ca/en/2007/2007fca103/2007fca103.html.

Unless there is an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, the Inquiry Committee is expected to resume its deliberations in this matter in the near future.

The Canadian Judicial Council is composed of the chief justices and associate chief justices of Canada's superior courts. The Council's web site address is:
http://www.cjc-ccm.gc.ca

Contact:
Norman Sabourin
Executive Director and General Counsel
613-288-1566, extension 301