Provincial Judges in La Ronge for Annual Meeting

Provincial Judges in La Ronge for Annual Meeting

Wednesday, June 18, 2003 at 16:24

About 45 provincial court judges are in La Ronge today for the start of their annual 3-day conference.

Their annual meeting is typically not held in La Ronge, but provincial court judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond feels it’s a good way to expose the judges to the justice issues in the North.

Turpel-Lafond is of Aboriginal heritage and has become well known for her views on the sentencing of young offenders, particularly Aboriginal offenders. She says she’s looking forward to the discussion on the new Youth Criminal Justice Act and the provisions it has for the sentencing of Aboriginal youth.

Turpel-Lafond is also pleased that Canada’s laws are starting to delve into the root causes of youth crime in the native community.

Turpel-Lafond also says the judges will be looking into the problem of inner-city Aboriginal youth gangs.