(CBC Montreal posted the following story on its website on October 29.)
MONTREAL — Quebec youth court judge Andrée Ruffo has been reprimanded for appearing in two Via Rail television ads two years ago after a committee of the province’s judicial council says she violated the court’s code of conduct.
Ruffo said she agreed to appear in the ads out of her love of trains and her support for public transit. She didn’t get paid, and turned down a free trip.
But a committee of the judicial council says that’s not good enough, ruling that she failed to consult her boss or her colleagues.
The committee said that Ruffo’s appearance in the commercials is no different from her endorsing a restaurant or a furniture store. It added that she didn’t consider the impact the ads would have on someone involved in a court case with Via Rail.
The judicial council also said that Ruffo acted as though she owned the title of judge.
It’s concluded that her actions were incompatible with the exercise of judicial authority and with her obligation to preserve the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
Although the council could have recommended that Ruffo be removed from the bench, it has instead decided on a reprimand.