Calgary lawyers who had Manitoba judge followed fight disbarment
CBC
The two Calgary lawyers who hired a private investigator in 2021 to follow a Manitoba judge who'd been presiding over their court challenge of COVID-19 public health restrictions should be disbarred for their dishonourable professional conduct, argued a prosecutor for the Law Society of Alberta on Wednesday.
The law society hearing is underway this week to determine what sanctions will be imposed against John Carpay and Jay Cameron, lawyers who work for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
Carpay is the organization's president. Cameron was working in private practice and was retained by the justice centre.
While law society lawyer Karl Seidenz asked the panel to impose the "maximum sanction" of disbarment, lawyers for the two men are fighting to keep them employed in their chosen profession, arguing the pair have already faced significant consequences.
Cameron's lawyer, Alex Steigerwald, told the court that his client's reputation is "irreversibly tarnished" and said he had "experienced professional disgrace."
"The consequences of his actions have already been severe," argued Steigerwald, telling the panel that Cameron is the sole breadwinner for his family and hasn't been able to practise law since 2022.
Steigerwald asked the law society to impose a suspension that would run concurrently with the three-year Canada-wide practising prohibition, issued by a Manitoba judge, which is set to expire in October 2026.
Carpay's lawyer, Alain Hepner, also asked the law society panel to impose a suspension.
"This is a case of an error in judgment for which he's apologized," said Hepner.
The panel reserved its decision.
As part of the misconduct hearing, Carpay was called to testify.
Carpay called the decision to hire a PI "the worst error in judgment I've ever made in my legal career."
In the spring and summer of 2021, the justice centre was involved in a court case challenging COVID-19 restrictions, presided over by Manitoba Justice Glenn Joyal.
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Warning: This story deals with suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you can find resources for help at the bottom of this story.