Justice Minister appoints commissioner to conduct public inquiry

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Kelvin Parsons today announced the appointment of retired Chief Justice of Canada, The Right Honourable Antonio Lamer, to conduct a public inquiry into various aspects of the administration of justice in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Specifically, Chief Justice Lamer will conduct an investigation into the death of Catherine Carroll and the circumstances surrounding the resulting criminal proceedings against Gregory Parsons, and an investigation into the death of Brenda Young and the circumstances surrounding the resulting criminal proceedings against Randy Druken. Chief Justice Lamer will also be asked to inquire as to why Ronald Dalton�s appeal of his murder conviction took eight years before it was brought on for a hearing in the Court of Appeal.

Chief Justice Lamer is a native of Montreal, Quebec. He was first appointed to the Superior Court of the Province of Quebec in 1969. He was appointed to the Quebec Court of Appeal in 1978, and to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1980. He was named Chief Justice of Canada on July 1, 1990 and held this position until his retirement on January 7, 2000.

He was active in the Canadian Bar in various capacities amongst others as National Chairman of the Criminal Justice Section. He was granted full professorship by the University of Montreal at the Faculty of Law and also Lecturer in Criminology; and is the founder of the Association of Defence Attorneys of the Province of Quebec.

"Chief Justice Lamer has the highest credentials. He is a man of high integrity and I�m delighted he has agreed to accept this assignment. I have every confidence he will complete a thorough and comprehensive inquiry," said Minister Parsons.

Chief Justice Lamer is to provide his report to government by December 31, 2004.

Media contact: Edwina Bateman, Communications (709) 729-6985

03 21 2003                                         11:10 a.m.