Ford's Rant on Judges

Okay, so let me tell you about something that’s been all over the news lately. Premier Doug Ford, y’know, he’s the big boss of Ontario, basically went off on a rant about judges. So, there was this announcement at the police headquarters where he was like, 'I’m not hitting out at all judges, just the ones who are a bit too comfy in their roles thinking they run the show'. And, man, did he throw a curveball - he’s pitching for U.S.-style elections for judges!

Source of Frustration

Ford's really ticked off because a judge put a stop to his plan to axe some bike lanes in Toronto. He’s like, ‘Are the judges bored or what? They’ve got nothing better to do but fret about bike lanes?’ And sure, he’s not thrilled about one judge saying it’s cool and another blocking it because they fancy themselves as environment crusaders or something. He argued that we voted for politicians, not judges, and maybe it’s about time judges got elected so we can hold them accountable.

Judicial Accountability

This whole drama unfolded more when Ford pointed out how these judges just keep letting accused people walk free over and over. He’s so fed up that he’s planning to bring in more hard-nosed judges and justices of the peace. And you won’t believe the stuff he said judges ignore, like the classic, 'But he’s a good boy, goes to church every Sunday' and yet, they let them out only for them to commit serious crimes again.

Controversial Proposals

Ford even went as far as saying we should publicly name and shame some judges based on their decisions. Talk about firing shots! Then there’s this part where he’s like, ‘What if we posted how many times a judge let someone off, and that dude ended up doing something horrible?’ It’s clear he thinks something’s gotta change.

Opposing Views

Now, not everyone thinks electing judges is a smart move. Folks like Allen Wynperle from the Federation of Ontario Law Associations are worried that rich people could end up swaying these elections. I mean, just look at some U.S. examples, like Elon Musk throwing cash into judge elections. And, on another note, Donna Kellway argued that judges should be loyal to the law, not the voters.

Government Actions

On the legal front, Ford’s government is also planning to boost the judge ranks to strengthen community safety by fast-tracking judge appointments. Plus, they’ve got these new teams called 'Intensive Serious Violent Bail Teams'. Sounds super intense, right? They’re all about keeping tabs on folks charged with heavy-duty crimes.

Conclusion

In the grand scheme of things, while the idea of making systemic changes to ensure safety and fairness is valid, the ways and means of achieving these goals are subject to debate. Ford’s approach has sparked a pretty big conversation about how much politics should influence judiciary matters. And y’know, with crime and safety on everyone’s mind, these discussions aren't just legal mumbo jumbo; they're about real stuff happening to real people.