(Globe and Mail) The Tax Court of Canada tried to ensure no Muslims appeared before a Jewish judge who was under investigation amid allegations of bias related to the Israel-Palestine conflict, a court record shows.
Last fall, while the Canadian Judicial Council was in the midst of investigating several complaints against Tax Court Justice David Spiro, the court said it was screening counsel and litigants to prevent members of the Islamic faith from being involved in cases before him. Justice Spiro would recuse himself immediately, even late in a case — “from any file at any time” — if anyone involved appeared to be of the Muslim faith, Tax Court Chief Justice Eugene Rossiter said in a letter to the judicial council.
The policy was for “perception purposes,” the chief justice’s letter said.
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