Cameras in court for polygamy trial
Posted Mar 28, 2011 12:16:02 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The constitutional challenge to Canada’s polygamy law is coming to a computer screen near you. The judge is allowing cameras and recording equipment in the courtroom for the closing arguments.
“We’re very strong supporters of the open courtroom principle,” says David Eby with the BC Civil Liberties Association.
He believes allowing people to watch and hear what goes on inside a courtroom is a big step in a legal system not known for its speed.
Eby isn’t worried about our courts mirroring an American example.
“[US] courts are very politicized with elections for prosecutors and judges. In Canada we don’t have those kinds of concerns. This experiment will be interesting to see how it turns out and we think that it will allay a lot of the fears and will increase public knowledge about how our court system works.”
Eby thinks it’s about time courts were more open to the public through technology, although he’s aware there are some concerns.
“The protection of confidential sources or children, witnesses who are particularly vulnerable. These issues will easily be addressed by where the camera is pointed or having the person’s voice or image disguised.”
The feed is on a 10-minute delay.
Landmark case is drawing to a close
Former attorney general Wally Oppal tells News1130 the polygamy case raises questions about religious freedom. “We have to ask ourselves, as a society, what is in the public interest? What kind of society do we want?”
In his submission, government lawyer Craig Jones says polygamous societies “eat their own young.” “It is anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian, anti-liberal, and antithetical to the proper functioning of any modern, rights-based society.”
Changes, he says, would open up a Pandora’s Box. “These victims were inevitable and there will be many more if the challengers succeed in making Canada the first Western nation to decriminalize polygamy.”
The case, looking into the constitutionality of Canada’s polygamy laws as practiced by the community of Bountiful, is expected to wrap up April 9.
Check back, you can watch the closing arguments in the polygamy case live right here.
