法官来到我们班
08-04-02
法官来到我们班
此文谢绝任何报刊转载
三月二十六日下午，省高级法院的本尼特法官先生来到我们班讲解加拿大的“司法独立”，然後回答学生的问题。
本尼特法官先生说，加国法律是从几方面保障司法独立的体制：确保法官的收入，确保法官的职位，确保法官不涉及他/她所熟悉的环境人物之案件。最後一点也是最重要的，确保司法与立法、执法、和政府部门的分开。
能够成为一个法官，就意味进入了高收入一族。本尼特法官先生自报年收入为二十五万两千，再加上五千加元的书报费。这个数字那与加拿大2006年家庭平均收入六万五加元的比较，那不是一般的可观。给与法官高薪的原因，据说是为了避免他们受贿，另一方面也是对他们十年寒窗苦读和长期辛勤工作的回报。想象一下我们国内法官的收入，甚至少于国内外企销售员，那真是无语了。
另一个保障司法独立的政策就是法官的职位是终身制的。法官的任命程序如下：一个独立的委员会根据律师或者司法工作人员的优秀品德给出一个名单。名单中的候选人年龄，女性在三十岁以上，男性在四十岁以上，他们相信比较成熟的年龄也就具有比较独立思考不受干扰的能力。然後省首席检察官从名单中选任省法院的法官，联邦司法部长或者总理从名单中选任联邦法院或省高级法院的法官。一旦被任命为法官，省法院工作的七十岁才退休，省高级法院和联邦法院的到七十五岁。因为他们的职位是稳固的，法官在法庭上就会无畏地做出判决。
还有，法官们必须回避任何他们所熟悉的环境-社区和人物-所牵连的案件。这是一条纪律，如果法官认为自己无法作出中间公正的判决，他们必须退出审理。另外，在加拿大，法官不得参与任何政党（这和美国不一样），这样也就预防了政治倾向影响法官的公正判决。
在加拿大，最重要的政策是行政、立法和司法完全分开。行政部门，包括英联邦女皇及其代表，总理/省长河内阁，称为服务员（servants)，不是领导也不是上司。立法人员是被选出来的法律制定者，司法是法院工作人员。司法部门不受另外两个部门管辖；这样保证了司法独立的基本原则。虽然不少国家标榜自己也是三角鼎力的制度，可是真正做到就比较困难。因为这样的话，每个人（包括国家主席总统总理）在法律面前和条款下真正的平等了。
本尼特法官先生说完後，班级里每个学生开始提问。我问了两个问题，可是没有一个答案是令人满意的。
第一个问题是：加拿大政策如何能保证法官生涯中一直保持他们的美德？如果他们犯了错误如何处置。本尼特法官先生的答复仅仅限于身体健康方面：他说如果发生法官在开庭时打瞌睡或者思想不集中或者由于生病缺席，那么他可病假六个月或者提前退休。
然而，我们的教科书上的信息是，如果法官有误判，原告可以与律师、法律援助或者社区法律处联系，决定是否要想对此位法官的判决提出上诉。另外，如果有一方不满意法官的操作行为，可与法院人员核实法官的工作地点，决定到底是向加拿大司法委员会还是省法院提出抱怨。
我第二个问题是本尼特法官先生是否曾拒绝由警察或者检察官用不当手段获得的证据。法官先生说有的，但是他举例仅仅是“听说(hearsay)”的证据不能采纳，还有情侣或者夫妻的一方证据不能采纳。看来他很回避提及警察或者检察官负面的行为。
除了上述两条，总的来说，这位法官先生的讲课对于学生总结和理解司法独立这个概念很有帮助。司法独立时区别社会和国家是民主体制还是专制体制。我尊重司法独立，而且我认为，真正做到比自诩更为艰难。
加拿大《都市报》2008.04.25
Report of Judge’s Visit on 26 March 2008
On 26th March, Mr. Justice Burnyeat, a judge from Provincial Supreme Court gave our class a lecture of Judicial Independence in Canada, after that he answered students’ question.
Mr. Justice Burnyeat says the system of Canada ensures Judicial Independence by the following ways: Security of salary for Judges, security position of Judges, security of separation between Judges and his/her familiar environment of cases. And the last and most important policy is that Judiciary is independent of the executive, legislature and government.
Being a judge means he/she can make high salary. Mr. Justice Burnyeat gave his own example that his annual income is around 252,000 CAD, plus 5000 CAD of stationery fee. Comparing to the average income – 65,000 CAD – this job is very good paid. The reasons to let Judges make much higher salary are preventing them from bribery, and the reward to their longer terms study and hard work. This is very important and great policy. I have known some Judges were not impartial in China because they were lured by palm grease. Just imagine that the income for a judge in China is much less than a sales people in the foreigner-owned company in China.
Security position of Judges is one of the issues to protect independence of the judiciary. Mr. Justice Burnyeat says that Judges are selected by committee based on their merits, and appointed by attorney general (for Provincial) or federal minister of justice or Prime minister. Once Judges appointed, it is a life term career until reach 75 (appointed by Federal) or 70 (appointed by Provincial). In this case, Judge will not have any fear to make decision in the court because their positions are not easily moved. Another regulation is that only those reach a certain age will be selected as Judge, for woman, it will be above 30, and for man will be above 40. People believe that a mature person will be more difficult to be influenced by other people’s opinion or worldview.
Moreover, Judges must be separated from the cases that any one involved in the case that Judges are familiar with. This is like a discipline, Judges must withdraw the cases if they thinks that they are not capable to be impartial. On the other hand, in Canada, any politician or party member is not allowed to be a judge, which prevents one from influence of any political orientation.
The most significant policy in Canada is that three branches of government are completely separated. The executive are the cabinet and civil servants (not bosses!!!), the legislature are the elected law makers, and the judiciary are the people work in the courts. The Judiciary is independent of the other two; therefor, it ensures the principle of fundamental justice. It is very hard to do so than to claim so. Then every one is equal in front of or under law no matter how high the person’s position is.
After the speech give by Mr. Justice Burnyeat, students became to raise questions. I asked Mr. Justice Burnyeat two question; however, none of the answers satisfied me.
My first question is how can judges keep their merits all their business life; and what will be done if they made mistakes. Mr. Justice Burnyeat’s reply it from the physical side only. He says in case a judge falling asleep during court, or does not think clearly, or absent due to healthy problem, he/she can ask sick leave or early retire.
Never the less, from the handout information and our law 12 class, we know that if a judge made a decision with mistake in the courts, the complainant can contact a lawyer, legal aid office or community legal clinic to determine whether or not they can appeal the decision. Also if the complainant does not satisfied with Judge’s conduct, he/she can check with court staff where the judges sits, to determine whether to bring the compliant to the Canada Judicial Council or to provincial officials.
My another question was that if Mr. Justice Burnyeat had ever excluded evidence because it was obtained by improper way. Mr. Justice Burnyeat said yes, but his examples were not related with “improper” way. He said hearsay could not be used as evidence, what you tell your sponsor can not be used in the court. He seems avoid telling any negative examples that police or Crown would possibly do.
Apart from the issues listed above, Mr. Justice Burnyeat’s visit, anyway, helps us student to summarize and understanding the terms of Judicial Independence in Canada. The Judicial Independence is a keystone to distinguish systems of a democracy country or a dictatorship country. I respect the Judicial Independence from the bottom of my heart, because I was come from China. I wish it can be executed all the countries so that bring the democracy to the whole world.
