So yesterday's clinic was a trial run for my new three-shift system for the volunteers. It's just for the cold weather; instead of two shifts lasting an hour and a half each, I've divided it into three one-hour shifts. It means I need more escorts to be available each week, but it also means they don't have to stand out there for as long. And a half hour in the cold makes a big difference.
It seemed to work out, although three quarters of my early shift didn't show up so EO was there alone. Which definitely sucks. Unexplained absences come with the territory when coordinating volunteers, and I don't really get too hung up on it because it can happen to anyone. For the most part, the work they do is too valuable to make it really frustrating when they occasionally slip up.
I went with a couple colleagues to see the appeal yesterday - when the court granted Dr. Morgentaler standing last August to sue the province, the province appealed, so yesterday was the hearing. Or whatever you call it, I'm not that up on my law terms. It was actually streamed live on to the internet by the CBC (you can read more about that here), so that was kind of cool.
I could only stay for the first half of the hearing because I had to get to my other job, but as we were leaving during the lunch break, some journalists stopped us and asked for interviews. I'm not sure how they surmised that we were from the clinic (and ARCC), unless they recognized JB's face (or mine, I suppose). Regardless, I got to do a fun media-scrum-on-the-courthouse-steps interview, and CTV and Global both used my comments on the local news last night. There was also an article in CanWest, which you can read here.
The news (I can't remember which one) said that they would rule on it within a month, which would be awesome. I didn't get to see Henry's lawyer in action this time but I'm fairly confident that he'll be awarded standing. And then the trial....well it should be interesting, if we ever get to it. The wheels of justice turn pretty slowly.
8 comments:
It is so annoying that the NB government will do anything to slow down this case. I think it knows it will lose (just like Quebec). It is only a matter of time....
I'm sure that someone will drag out the J-card, in court no less.
These pro-ceedins oughta be downright entertaining to watch.
J-card??
The picture from the abortion clinic bothers me and I didn't figure out why until today. Move the ! under Henry to make it symetrical :)
J-card? How needlessly ambiguous.
-E
jalapeño?
J-card = Jesus. As in, "Jesus thinks you're wrong because he told me so".
I'm pretty confidant that counsel for the province won't bring a religious argument to the Court of Appeal, even in this backwards province. In the Charter era, that's about as close to legal suicide as you can get.
-E
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