Chief Justice recuses herself re Black decision

Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin will not take part in the ultimate decision about whether Conrad Black should be stripped of his Order of Canada. “On Sept. 25, 2012, the chief justice wrote to Mr. Stephen Wallace, secretary to the Governor General, recusing herself from all deliberations of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada on this matter,” said Owen Rees, McLachlin’s executive legal officer. McLachlin, as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, also chairs the advisory council. That’s the independent panel that decides who gets — or should lose — the prestigious national honour. Its recommendations are binding on the Governor General. Toronto Star