Reduced Hearing Panel established in matter involving the Honourable Andrew J. Goodman
Ottawa, October 28, 2025 – A reduced hearing panel has been established by the Canadian Judicial Council (Council) in the matter of the Honourable Andrew J. Goodman.
Justice Goodman was the subject of a complaint that was before a review panel. In light of the facts that were before the review panel, it concluded in its decision that a public reprimand under section 102 of the Judges Act (Act) was appropriate in the circumstances. The panel also ordered Justice Goodman to issue an apology to Crown and defence counsel.
Pursuant to section 104 of the Act, Justice Goodman requested that the Council establish a reduced hearing panel to review the complaint. In considering the complaint, the reduced hearing panel shall not consider the decision of the review panel or the reasons for that decision. The reduced hearing panel can either:
- refer the complaint to the Council for the establishment of a full hearing panel, if it determines that the removal from office of the judge who is the subject of the complaint could be justified;
- take one or more of the actions referred to in paragraphs 102(a) to (g) of the Act; or,
- dismiss the complaint.
In keeping with the requirements of the Act, the reduced hearing panel is comprised of a member of the Council, the Honourable Kenneth G. Nielsen, Associate Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta and the designated Chair of the panel; a judge named in the roster of judges, the Honourable Geneviève Cotnam of the Court of Appeal of Quebec; and a lawyer with at least 10 years’ standing at the bar of any province or territory, Ms. Andi MacKay, K.C., of the law firm MacKay Boyar.
When a reduced hearing panel is established, a presenting counsel is also designated by a member of the Council. Mr. Giuseppe Batista, Ad. E., of the law firm Battista Turcot Israel s.e.n.c., has been designated to present the matter before the panel.
The judge who is the subject of the complaint and the presenting counsel are the only parties who have standing before the panel.
In accordance with the Act, hearings are to be public unless the panel considers it is in the public interest to hold all or parts of its hearings in private. The dates of the hearings in this matter will be communicated on the Council's website as soon as the information becomes available.
This is the first reduced hearing panel established by the Council since the judicial conduct regime was amended in June of 2023. For an overview of the various steps of the complaint review process, please visit the Council’s website.
About the Canadian Judicial Council
The Council was created in 1971 by Parliament to maintain and improve the quality of judicial services in Canada's superior courts. It has the power and duty to investigate complaints into the conduct of federally appointed judges. The Council is also responsible for the continuing education of judges, as well as for developing other tools and programs to maintain public confidence in the judicial system.
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Contact :
Krista Ferraro
Director of Communications and Strategic Issues Management
Canadian Judicial Council
info@cjc-ccm.ca