The Canadian Judicial Council says it is “reviewing a complaint into the alleged conduct” of Supreme Court Justice Russell Brown, who is currently on leave from the top court.
According to the council, a complaint was made against Brown on Jan. 29 to Christopher Hinkson, chief justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia and chairperson of the council’s Judicial Conduct Committee.
Late last month, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court said Brown has been on leave since February 1 for what it described as a confidential matter.
“Unfortunately, at this time we cannot disclose why Justice Brown is currently on leave, to respect confidentiality,” Supreme Court spokesperson Stéphanie Bachand said at the time. “There has been no statement by the court for this same reason.”
In announcing the review, the Judicial Council said that it too will not “comment further on the matter at this time.”
Brown’s absence from the bench was first noticed in early February when Law360 Canada, an online legal news service, asked the top court why Brown was not included in a recent 8-0 judgment on the appeal of Colin McGregor, who was convicted of sexual assault.
The court mentioned Brown’s absence in a single line in that judgment: “Brown J. did not participate in the final disposition of the judgment.”
More to come …
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