Canadian Lawyer

February 2014

The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers

Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/250894

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 34 of 51

"The rule of law is basic to economic development in these parts of the world. This is a way that Canada can help them get on their feet and establish a court system that will support democracy and freedom." Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin dengue fever. "One of them recovered quickly, but the other was sick for some period of time," says Thomson. While Cupper and her staff at NJI typically reach out to their contacts in other countries to learn the realpolitik of their security, culture, food, and general environment, some scenarios nonetheless present a certain amount of risk. In one such project, a group of senior judges in Pakistan — many of whom had just been released from house arrest — asked the NJI for help with its judicial institute. Kent, one of those sent to provide aid, had to live in a CIDA compound in Islamabad. Her entourage later travelled to the troubled city of Peshawar in a bombproof car. "Two months later, they blew up a hotel just down the road from where we had stayed in Islamabad," she says. "I wouldn't have missed the experience for the world, but I'm not sure I would do it again." To Rosenberg, however, the greatest worry for judges venturing abroad is offering aid that proves unsuited to the needs of a host country. He views it as vital judges guard against conveying a bloated notion that every element of their own system is superior — and ought to be emulated — by a host nation. One of the most enduring lessons Rosenberg learned from the Chinese project occurred at a meeting toward the end of the mission, when a member of the Canadian contingent issued a remark that evidently struck a sour note with one of the host judges, he recalls. The judge — one of the most senior, dignified members of the host delegation — looked up and said: "Don't forget: we have been doing this for 4,000 years." The uncomfortable moment passed quickly, but Rosenberg chuckles at the memory: "It was a great moment — a reminder that there is more than one way to see things," he says. McLachlin had her own moment of revelation while she was in China, when a Chinese judge took her aside for a chat. "He said: 'We take the long view of things. Decades, even hundreds of years, is not very much time. We are at the beginning of building our judicial system.'" The memory has stayed with her, says the chief justice. "It made me realize that anything we can do to strengthen their courts may have long-term effects which we may not even dream of." AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN PRINT REACH ONE OF THE LARGEST LEGAL AND BUSINESS MARKETS IN CANADA! ENCHANCE YOUR LISTING TODAY! Get noticed by the lawyers, judges, corporate counsel, finance professionals and other blue chip cilents and prospects who find the contacts they need for Canadian legal expertise at canadianlawlist.com with an annual Gold or Silver Enhanced listing package. With more than 264,000 page views and 60,000 unique visitors monthly canadianlawlist.com captures your market. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Colleen Austin T: 416.649.9327 | E: colleen.austin@thomsonreuters.com www.canadianlawlist.com www.CANADIAN ntitled-2 1 L a w ye r m a g . c o m F e b r uary 2014 35 14-01-13 6:55 PM

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Canadian Lawyer - February 2014