# Canada judge facing discipline for wearing "Make America Great Again" cap in court
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [August 26, 2017, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718 "2017-08-26T07:23:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/1 "2017-08-26T07:23:21Z")
A provincial court judge in Ontario is facing discipline this past week, for conduct the day after the US election last November. He wore a Trump “Make America Great Again” cap into court, triggering over 80 complaints to the provincial judicial council.
He says it was sort of a joke, not an indication of support for Trump.
My guess is he’ll be found guilty of bad judgment and reprimanded, but not removed.
NY Times article: [Canadian Judge Faces Possible Discipline for Wearing Trump Cap](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/23/world/americas/canada-ontario-judge-trump-hat.html?_r=0)
[Judge who wore Trump hat in court says he doesn’t support American president](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/trump-hat-hearing-1.4258491)
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/2 "2017-08-26T07:32:01Z")
Dumb. Judges should be apolitical. They also shouldn’t be making jokes in open court. Save it for amateur night at the Chuckle Hut, your honor.
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### Author:  [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/3 "2017-08-26T07:33:05Z")
Yeah, read about that yesterday.
I’m 100% sure he was as he claimed being ironic; yet he miscalculated the sense of humour the hysterics permit in others.
He is not a Trumpist, convicted or otherwise.
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### Author:  [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/4 "2017-08-26T07:50:38Z")
As for jokes, in less prim times before the miserablists took over, British judges were known for making wisecracks in court — some of them very funny too, like the Scottish Lord **[Braxfield’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McQueen,_Lord_Braxfield)** keen joke: _“Ye’re a vera clever chiel, man, but ye wad be nane the waur o’ a hanging”_
Tis a sad world and a thoughtful word can make break the ice and everyone feel better.
Otherwise he was not a nice man.
Mr. Justice **[Darling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darling,_1st_Baron_Darling)** — before he was made a lord ( dunno the correct nomenclature since one can’t call him **[Lord Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_titles_in_England_and_Wales)** Darling after his elevation — he was not an Appeal Judge, but sat on the Queen’s Bench ) was famous for it.
_He was known for his erudition and at times inappropriate wit, both on and off the bench, as well as for being impeccably dressed and wearing a silk top hat whilst riding to Court on a horse and accompanied by a liveried groom_
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### Author:  [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/5 "2017-08-26T08:58:17Z")
Who hires these guys?
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### Author:  [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/6 "2017-08-26T11:13:45Z")
I don’t believe for a minute it ‘was just a joke!’, or ironic. He’s a judge, and this IS a clear indication of his lack of judgement.
When your bad judgement lands you in the headlines you should be forced to early retirement because clearly, your time has passed. Just like the last case where the judge told a rape victim she should have ‘kept her knees together’. He tried to say he didn’t mean it ‘like that!’ too.
That he thought this was appropriate, with years of experience on the bench, indicates to me, his time there should be done. Not firing, or chastising, just flat out retirement. As of yesterday.
If he doesn’t want to go quietly, fire his ass. There is no room for this American style horseshit in Canadian courtrooms. There should be swift and decisive push back, I feel.
Just one opinion.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/7 "2017-08-26T12:53:52Z")
When I worked as a poll clerk in a provincial election, the training went to great lengths to stress that we were to be politically neutral: we weren’t even allowed to wear the colours of any of the political parties. This limited us to black, white, and beige, basically (and I joked about starting a Beige Party, whose platform would be bland).
I see no reason why judges shouldn’t be held to the same standard.
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### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/8 "2017-08-26T15:24:24Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#):
>
> Who hires these guys?
>
> * * *
>
> It’s too late.
Your sig sums up the problem in this particular case. 😛
In Ontario, candidates for the bench have to apply. The Provincial Judicial Council vets the application for competency, honesty, reputation, etc. If someone passes that vetting, they are eligible for appointment by the provincial government.
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### Author:  [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/9 "2017-08-26T17:04:58Z")
> [@elbows](#):
>
> I don’t believe for a minute it ‘was just a joke!’, or ironic. He’s a judge, and this IS a clear indication of his lack of judgement.
>
> When your bad judgement lands you in the headlines you should be forced to early retirement because clearly, your time has passed. Just like the last case where the judge told a rape victim she should have ‘kept her knees together’. He tried to say he didn’t mean it ‘like that!’ too.
>
> That he thought this was appropriate, with years of experience on the bench, indicates to me, his time there should be done. Not firing, or chastising, just flat out retirement. As of yesterday.
>
> If he doesn’t want to go quietly, fire his ass. There is no room for this American style horseshit in Canadian courtrooms. There should be swift and decisive push back, I feel.
>
> Just one opinion.
My opinion is that people need to lighten up.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/10 "2017-08-26T17:50:59Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#):
>
> Who hires these guys?
His was the last name on the list and everyone else didn’t pick up the phone. 😉
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/11 "2017-08-26T17:58:52Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#):
>
> His was the last name on the list and everyone else didn’t pick up the phone. 😉
To be entirely accurate and to indicate I got the reference, he was the only one who was home.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/12 "2017-08-27T15:30:16Z")
There’s still no such thing as a Make Canada Great Again hat? Really?
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### Author:  [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/13 "2017-08-27T15:45:50Z")
Separating judges from politics is as important as separating church from state. If you’re hired for your good judgement and discretion, then choose to openly display an egregious lack of both, it’s time for you to ‘retire’. Your years of good service are why you’re being retired instead of fired, you should take the deal and move on, in my opinion.
Using the douchebag’s refrain, ‘It was a joke!’, makes us all embarrassed for you. Just go.
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### Author:  [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/14 "2017-08-27T18:03:09Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> There’s still no such thing as a Make Canada Great Again hat? Really?
We is humble.
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/15 "2017-08-27T19:20:50Z")
> [@octopus](#):
>
> My opinion is that people need to lighten up.
Overruled.
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/16 "2017-08-27T19:31:58Z")
Reprimanded would be the right outcome.
The court isn’t a place for judges to make such “jokes”. Wit is okay in actual judgments, as long as it is actually clever; playing the clown in the courtroom isn’t, much less trolling people (which appears to be closer to the mark of what he was up to - basically sticking out his middle finger to all the other judges etc. who overwhelmingly loathed the fact that Trump won the election).
I think firing the guy is going too far; it is disproportionate to the offence given.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/17 "2017-08-27T22:44:21Z")
I don’t agree. The argument that his bad judgement reflects badly on his ability to do his job makes far more sense to me. I would worry the guy has early senility.
And the fact that he saw Trump’s election as a joke instead of as a clear and serious problem does show his political affiliation. What America does affects Canada.
The only way such a joke even makes sense is as a “stick it to the liberals” joke. Before his election, it could make sense to think he wasn’t a serious threat, and thus joke about him. But afterwards? Not so much.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/18 "2017-08-28T01:46:43Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#):
>
> We is humble.
And proud of it.
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### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/19 "2017-08-28T02:21:57Z")
Canada is the Uriah Heep of the western world!
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-judge-facing-discipline-for-wearing-make-america-great-again-cap-in-court/794718/20 "2017-08-28T15:42:44Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Reprimanded would be the right outcome.
>
> The court isn’t a place for judges to make such “jokes”. Wit is okay in actual judgments, as long as it is actually clever; playing the clown in the courtroom isn’t, much less trolling people (which appears to be closer to the mark of what he was up to - basically sticking out his middle finger to all the other judges etc. who overwhelmingly loathed the fact that Trump won the election).
>
> I think firing the guy is going too far; it is disproportionate to the offence given.
This sounds about right to me. Looks like the judge made a single dumb mistake. Humor in court is best when it’s self-deprecating and/or appropriately lightens the mood; it should never be mean-spirited about colleagues or, worst of all, litigants and counsel.
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