N.W.T. proposes creating list of French-speaking jurors
Changes proposed after inability to form French-speaking jury prompted 2013 mistrial
A proposed bill may change how French-speaking juries are selected in the Northwest Territories.
If the bill to amend the N.W.T. Jury Act is adopted, the Department of Justice will create a list of francophone residents eligible for jury duty. The sheriff will then be able to summons French-speaking potential jurors directly from the list, instead of summoning potential jurors from the general population.
"Through this legislation we are hoping that the public's confidence in the justice system is upheld," said Justice Minister David Ramsay.
The amendments were proposed after a mistrial occurred in 2013 when the court wasn't able to establish a French-speaking jury in Yellowknife, despite summoning four times as many potential jurors as usual.
Ramsay says the francophone list would be created by having French organizations within the territory submit the names of their members.
Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny said he is concerned that a francophone juror list may overburden the French community.
Ramsay said that is unlikely.
"What happened in 2013 was the first time that we had to look at panelling a French-speaking jury," he said. "It's very infrequent. It is an exceedingly rare occasion."
In the meantime, the minister has reached out for support from other provinces. He says Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec have agreed to host French-speaking jury trials for the territory if the need arises.
The proposed amendments are getting support from the Fédération Franco-Ténois, the territory's francophone association.