ex1cdo
12-12-2007, 07:11 PM
Poppy inappropriate for witness, judge says
Dec 12, 2007 04:30 AM
Betsy Powell
Crime Reporter
While a judge in Kitchener doesn't think police officers should wear poppies when they come to testify in her courtroom, it doesn't appear to be part of a wider trend banning the Remembrance Day symbol.
According to a court transcript obtained by The Record of Waterloo Region, Ontario Court Justice Margaret Woolcott issued the warning to Const. Dan Haines on Oct. 31 when he appeared as a witness at an assault trial.
"However much you may think that's a totally acceptable symbol, and that is totally neutral, that might not be entirely the case for everybody who comes to court," Woolcott told the Waterloo regional police officer.
"It represents a symbol of support and I suspect that 99.999 per cent of us happily wear it outside the courtroom. You probably should not wear anything like that in court."
While she didn't insist Haines remove it that day, she told him she would in the future.
At Ontario Superior Court yesterday, no one could remember a judge there making such an order.
Sgt. Brian Thornton, a Toronto Police Service liaison officer who's been based at the 361 University Ave. courthouse for the last six years, said: "It's never been an issue here."
However, over at Old City Hall, one court security guard shrugged when asked if he'd ever heard about anyone being asked to remove a poppy.
"It's the judge's courtroom. He can do what he wants."
After the Oct. 31 proceeding, police and judicial representatives held a closed-door meeting and the issue has been resolved, Insp. Brian Larkin told the Record.
Source (http://www.thestar.com/article/284752)
(A red poppy is commonly worn in Commonwealth countries to commemorate sacrifices made in times of war. The general date of remembrance is November 11th, the date of the armistice that ended the First World War. Other non-commonwealth nations also observe that date, such as Veteran's Day in the USA. See here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day).)
Yes, let's just chip away at our traditions in case they might offend someone.... :roll:
Dec 12, 2007 04:30 AM
Betsy Powell
Crime Reporter
While a judge in Kitchener doesn't think police officers should wear poppies when they come to testify in her courtroom, it doesn't appear to be part of a wider trend banning the Remembrance Day symbol.
According to a court transcript obtained by The Record of Waterloo Region, Ontario Court Justice Margaret Woolcott issued the warning to Const. Dan Haines on Oct. 31 when he appeared as a witness at an assault trial.
"However much you may think that's a totally acceptable symbol, and that is totally neutral, that might not be entirely the case for everybody who comes to court," Woolcott told the Waterloo regional police officer.
"It represents a symbol of support and I suspect that 99.999 per cent of us happily wear it outside the courtroom. You probably should not wear anything like that in court."
While she didn't insist Haines remove it that day, she told him she would in the future.
At Ontario Superior Court yesterday, no one could remember a judge there making such an order.
Sgt. Brian Thornton, a Toronto Police Service liaison officer who's been based at the 361 University Ave. courthouse for the last six years, said: "It's never been an issue here."
However, over at Old City Hall, one court security guard shrugged when asked if he'd ever heard about anyone being asked to remove a poppy.
"It's the judge's courtroom. He can do what he wants."
After the Oct. 31 proceeding, police and judicial representatives held a closed-door meeting and the issue has been resolved, Insp. Brian Larkin told the Record.
Source (http://www.thestar.com/article/284752)
(A red poppy is commonly worn in Commonwealth countries to commemorate sacrifices made in times of war. The general date of remembrance is November 11th, the date of the armistice that ended the First World War. Other non-commonwealth nations also observe that date, such as Veteran's Day in the USA. See here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day).)
Yes, let's just chip away at our traditions in case they might offend someone.... :roll: