PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Honouring Our Own
Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay
CBA (BC Branch) President 1997/98
December 1997
t the Bench & Bar Diimer held in against us, the judiciary, and the justice system Vancouver on November 20, as a whole. It would appear that the media is 1997, I had the honour of spurring on the public to embrace vigilantism, presenting Allan Bate, Q .C. with forgetting that an independent judiciary ensures the kind of freedoms that our veterans the Charles A. Goyer, Q.C. Memorial Award recognizing his exceptional fought wars for . Letters to Editors I wrote contributions to the legal profession and to recently on this subject, to both the Vancouver jurisprudence in BC. The accolades that poured Sun and the Nanaimo Daily News, made into the Branch revealed that ii1 his 46 years at "Letter of the Day" . No doubt because I the Bar, Al has won the admiration and awe of engaged in some retaliatory bashing of m y colleagues from around the Province and the own. Yukon through courtroom skill and keen intellect, but mostly because of his unfailing We know who we are, and we know what we can do. We know what it takes to be a lawyer: professionalism and the imparting of his the lectures, the studying, the books, the long guidance and wisdom to those fortunate enough to work with and against him. He S.C.C. decisions, the billing pressures, the CLIENTS! We know lawyers are very publichandled difficult, serious criminal matters for the Crown for many years with intensity, but minded, and spend countless volunteer hours advising community groups, Boards, and also with integrity, diligent hard work, and Government. We know, that for the most part, compassion. He was truly interested in the we do a hell of a job for the colleagues he came into people we act for. Most contact with, always people think their own recognizing that the "other We know, that for the lawyer is great; ii:' s the other guy" was a lawyer, just most part, we do a guy's lawyer who's a jerk. like him. He pretended he hell of a job for the The Kelowna Pilot Project couldn't hear, he rolled his people we act for . results tell us, however, that eyes, he wore the same the most effective measure - vest for 46 years, and would wax long at times in dismay . . . "our we can take to improve our image is to improve own forensic Eeyore." He's the kind of lawyer our relations one-on-one with the consumers of we all want to be when we grow up! Bate lived legal services, our clients. That's a concept most of us can understand. the last many years in Prince George, and is now retired in Chemainus. Bate is well-loved. BUT, do we display our respect for one another We should all be proud to share a profession and for ourselves in our daily professional dealings? Do we demonstrate our pride in our with an outstanding man such as Al. The truth chosen profession? Do we make it known that is, our profession is made up of many exceptional men and women. What a shame we take to heart, and live by, high professional that lawyer and judge bashing has reached the standards in our daily practicing and community life? I am not suggesting a "Lawyer status of spectator sport- entertaining for the Pride" parade or a Million Lawyer March, but armchair observer; extremely damaging for the real-life players. I am not speaking of "lawyer it may come to that. Let's make sure that we stand up for ourselves and each other. Al Bate jokes", the best of which are told by lawyers. has proven you can be both a successful lawyer Once we lose our sense of humour, we lose ourselves. I am, however, referring to the and a human being. Let's start there. seemingly constant media barrage of criticism
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