Rally to protest Judge Zuker 'wrist-slap' in Toronto

By John X. Smith, World Fathers Union News Service

June 1, 2007, Toronto (WFU News Wire)---A protest against the Ontario Judicial Council's 'slap-on-the-wrist' treatment of Family Court Judge Marvin Zuker for altering court transcripts is scheduled for 8:30am on Wednesday, June 6, at the Sheppard Avenue Courthouse in Toronto.

Judge Zuker admitted he had been guilty of altering the official transcripts for a case which was to be appealed. The Judicial Council had the option of recommending Zuker's removal, but gave him only a warning, the least serious of the seven possible penalties it could have imposed. The Council's reasons for decision, as reported in the Toronto Star, said '...[Judge Zuker's] spotless 28-year record, coupled with his apology and emotional stress since the scandal broke, justifies the lesser punishment.' Mr Justice Robert Blair, a member of the Judicial Council panel which heard the complaint, was quoted as saying that media coverage of the hearing 'took a significant toll' on him.

Harry Kopyto, who filed the complaint against Judge Zuker, disagreed strongly with the decision. Mr Kopyto is a former attorney who now advises clients as a paralegal. He called the Judicial Council's ruling 'absolutely outrageous given the offence.'

The incident which provoked Mr Kopyto's complaint took place in 2005, after Judge Zuker refused to allow him to represent his client, Robin Mayer, in family court. Ms Mayer was fighting an investigation of her treatment of her children by the Jewish Family and Child Service. After citing Mr Kopyto's reputation for being too adversarial, the judge removed his comments to that effect from the transcript when Mr Kopyto requested a copy in order to file an appeal for his client.

Said Mr Kopyto: 'This guy gets the least punishment for what must be one of the worst things a judge can do. You and I would be in jail if we changed a court transcript."

Ottawa-based fathers' rights advocate Jeremy Swanson, who is helping organise the Toronto protest said, 'When one of their own break the law, fellow judges seem to just ignore the law as it is written and conveniently re-label the crime as “judicial misconduct.”

'But the actions of Justice Zuker amounted to breaking the law,' he continued. 'More specifically, Justice Zuker’s actions amounted to obstruction of justice, a crime which is clearly defined in the Criminal Code.'

Mr Swanson urged all who wish to participate in the protest demonstration to rally at the Sheppard Avenue Courthouse, 47 Sheppard Aveune East, in Toronto, at 8:30am on Wednesday, June 6. The courthouse is located just east of Yonge Street and is accessible by public transportation. Mr Swanson can be reached at (613) 237-1320 ext. 2438 or by e-mail at swanson@storm.ca.