Cloud of suspicion lifted off Liberals, Oct. 25

Opposition parties that aspire to govern show their readiness for power by displaying sound judgment and respect for the foundations of democracy. Unfortunately, the provincial NDP and Conservative parties let us down on both scores in their reaction Tuesday to a watershed court ruling that threw out influence-peddling charges against top Liberal officials.

By claiming the decision was based on a technicality, NDP House leader Gilles Bisson and Conservative Leader Patrick Brown revealed either an abysmal ignorance of the law or a blatant disregard for the truth.

In fact, a “directed verdict” of acquittal is a rare and devastating ruling against the Crown. It means that, notwithstanding its vast resources and many legal advantages, the Crown failed to provide a scintilla of evidence to back up its allegations. Far from basing his decision on a “technicality,” Justice Howard Borenstein took pains to say that no reasonable person could have convicted on the evidence presented.

And nothing was hidden in this case; the process played out in an open courtroom in the best traditions of our legal system.

Mr. Bisson and Mr. Brown, like all elected members of parliament, have an obligation to honour the institutions of our democracy, including the judiciary. Their comments do a disservice to all Ontarians: they misinform the public and risk eroding public confidence in the legal system.

In undermining this profoundly important court decision, NDP and Conservative ‎critics have revealed that, for them, this trial was all about politics, not justice.

Breese Davies, vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, Toronto