Canadian Lawyer

w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m J U L Y 2 0 1 5 17 wrote a book about the Supreme Court of Canada (Mighty Judgment) intended for a general audience. The premise was that Canadians weren't sufficiently inter- ested in or aware of their highest court. I thought the book might help fix that. Despite my ebullient publisher brand- ing it "a national bestseller," tepid sales proved my point — no one is interested in Canada's Supreme Court. So, desperate times call for desperate measures. A new approach is necessary. Hence, Abella! I've got my eye on someone to write the music. Meanwhile, I'm work- ing on the libretto. I don't plan to depict Justice Abella as a trash-talking dancing machine à la SNL's Ginsburg, as tempting as that is. It would be disrespectful, and we Canadians don't disrespect high-ranking officials, particularly if they have to dress up to do their job. But there's huge enter- tainment potential in Abella's personality and judicial presence, and I'm going to try and make the most of it. American judicial commentator Dahlia Lithwick wrote in Slate that Abel- la was a "cross between Celine Dion and Ruth Bader Ginsburg." (There's Gins- burg again, "The Notorious RBG" as she's sometimes called.) Peter Herrn- dorf, president of the National Arts Cen- tre (where I expect Abella! to premiere) has described her as cuddly. Stevie Cam- eron has portrayed Abella in The Globe and Mail as "a pre-Raphaelite sprite with tumbling hair, an elfin creature in a red dress with red stockings . . ." Michael Valpy wrote, also in The Globe, "She hugs, she bubbles, she laughs, she incan- descently smiles. . . ." And she's not just cuddly and bubbly: she's also a powerful and articulate intellectual force. Perfect! In Abella! the curtain opens to show a replica of the Supreme Court court- room. The bad-to-the-bone band strikes up with a powerful thumping beat. An elfin creature in highly tailored red robes with a slit up the side enters from stage left. She dances flamboyantly, high step- ping, to downstage centre. The spotlight falls on her tumbling hair, catches her incandescent smile. The chorus — three women and five men in regular black judicial robes — rock in to the heavy metal beat and take their seats behind the dais, moving to the music. It's the opening number: "We're the Highest Court in the Land!" We're the highest court in the land, Canadians, don't you understand? Abortion, jail, suicide, We're the folks that decide, Public policy is our gig, The PM? We don't give a fig! We're the ones that take a stand, We're the highest court in the land! The music softens, a tenor saxophone strikes up a gentle theme, once more the spotlight falls on Abella, the chorus members quietly take their place on the bench suddenly intent on reading fac- tums, Abella starts to sing, plaintively, the song that will go on to become famous, it will become known around the world as "Rosie's Theme." I came from nowhere, Born in a camp For displaced persons Far away, in Germany, Now, here in Canada I make the law. The law is like music, The music of Mozart Or Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong Or Billie Holiday, I am the composer of the law, I am the singer of the law, I am the Law Singer. The members of the chorus stop reading factums, stand, and join in. She is the Law Singer, Abella! You get the idea. Philip Slayton's new book, Mayors Gone Bad, was published in May. If you want to read the complete libretto for Scalia/Ginsburg, it's in the Columbia Journal of Law and the Arts at lawandarts. org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/02/ 5-38.2-Wangupdated3.4.pdf ) Does the law reflect the evolving roles of men and women – or does it help to shape them? In eight thought-provoking articles, today's most respected practitioners and academics explore the impact of gender on family, criminal, and immigration law. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the role gender plays in legal negotiations; the economic and property rights of de facto spouses; child pornography offences; freedom of religion; and child custody. Thought-provoking insight on gender dynamics in law Available risk-free for 30 days Order online: www.carswell.com Call Toll-Free: 1-800-387-5164 In Toronto: 416-609-3800 Order # 986660-65203 $87 Softcover approx. 300 pages April 2015 978-0-7798-6660-1 Shipping and handling are extra. Price(s) subject to change without notice and subject to applicable taxes. 00229UI-A49400 New Publication Gender, Sex and the Law in Canada Johanne Elizabeth O'Hanlon Contributors: Renee R. Cochard, LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D. (Can), Q.C., Ildiko David, B.C.L., Marie-Hélène Dubé, Marie L. Gordon, Q.C., Professor Berend (Ben) Hovius, Johanna Sarfati, and Steven G. Slimovitch, B.A., LL.B.

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