Ford 'triples down' on appointing tough-on-crime judges after former staffers picked for selection committee

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is "tripling down" on appointing tough-on-crime judges after the government's move to appoint two former staffers to a committee that helps select provincial judges.

"I'm not going to double down, I'm going to triple down now," Ford said during question period at Queen's Park Tuesday.

"I'm making sure communities are safe. We're going to triple down on getting judges that believe in throwing someone in jail when they kick the doors in, put a gun to people's heads, terrorizing their kids, terrorizing the parents to the point that the kids don't want to stay at home anymore."

Ford's comments come days after The Toronto Star first reported that Matthew Bondy, a former deputy chief of staff to Ford, is the chair of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee, and Brock Vandrick, Ford's former director of stakeholder relations, is on the committee.

The appointments are made by Attorney General Doug Downey, and Ford previously said Friday that his Progressive Conservative government got elected "to get like-minded people in appointments."

Ford said Tuesday that he is "sick and tired of judges letting these people out on bail," after previously suggesting that judges and justices of the peace are too lenient on criminals and are letting people out on bail too frequently.

"They're terrorizing communities and guess what Mr. Speaker? They're letting them out on bail not once, not twice, not three times, not four times, up to eight times," he said Tuesday.

On Friday, Ford said he's not going to put Liberals or New Democrats in those roles.

The committee — made up of three judges, three lawyers and seven members of the public — reviews applications and conducts interviews for prospective Ontario Court judges, then sends a ranked list of its recommendations to the attorney general, who appoints someone from that list.

'Embarrassing' move, says criminal lawyers' group

Ford's appointments could set a dangerous precedent in which future governments make committee appointments based on partisanship rather than merit, said Adam Weisberg, vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers' Association.

"I haven't heard any lawyers who thought this was a great idea, a good idea, or even an OK idea," he said. "This is just completely misguided."

Adam Weisberg, vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, said public perception of the judiciary will be harmed by premier Doug Ford's comments on the appointment of two former staffers to the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee. (Lorenda Reddekopp/CBC)

Weisberg said the Ford government has not only narrowed the pool of quality judicial candidates, but hurt public perception of the judiciary.

"I think members of the bar — and maybe even their colleagues —  are going to think, 'This is just a partisan appointment,'" he said.

"I think it's embarrassing for our province and I think it's an embarrassment at large," Weisberg said.

Opposition leaders react

During question period Tuesday, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles called out Attorney General Doug Downey for the province's decision to appoint former staffers to the committee.

"I find this situation to be deeply concerning... it's outrageous," Stiles said at a news conference shortly after question period.

"This government, this premier, stands up there and shouts about law and order today to try to distract from the fact that it's under his government that our courts have become so overwhelmed, because of his government's failures."

Last week, Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie called on Ford to reverse the appointments, while NDP attorney general critic Kristyn Wong-Tam previously said the appointments raise serious concerns about the impartiality of the process of appointing judges.

"Judges need and want to remain impartial," Stiles said Tuesday.

"It's a very important part of our judicial system, of our legal process, and this government is going to be calling that into question."