In exploring how mandatory minimums and fines are being treated by the
judiciary, authors Lincoln Caylor and Gannon Beaulne note that it should
go without saying that judicial independence is a cardinal value in
Canada. They argue that judges who ignore the rule of law and make
decisions according to their personal views of justice in the face of
dear legislation to the contrary are not honouring the independence of
the judiciary. Rather, they are assaulting the justice system and
offending the duties of their office. Originally published in
Inside Policy - The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute (April 2014).
Bennett Jones