A hearing is underway for John Carpay, one of two lawyers who are facing charges under the Law Society of Manitoba, after the regulatory body investigated complaints they hired a private investigator to surveil a judge who was hearing a case involving COVID-19 public health orders. Carpay is seen outside the law courts in Calgary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Graveland
WINNIPEG – A Law Society of Manitoba hearing is underway for two lawyers facing charges related to complaints that they hired a private investigator to surveil a judge who was hearing a case involving COVID-19 public health orders.
John Carpay, president of the Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, and Randal Jay Cameron face charges from the independent regulator, which include undermining public respect for the administration of justice and breach of integrity.
Both men represented several churches that attempted in 2021 to overturn Manitoba public health orders preventing in-person religious services during the height of the pandemic.
Carpay temporarily stepped down as president of the Justice Centre after admitting in court to hiring a private investigator to follow the judge presiding over that case, Chief Justice Glenn Joyal of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench.
Cameron, a Calgary-based lawyer who has worked with the Justice Centre, has said he was not involved in the decision to hire the investigator but had known about it for a couple weeks.
Manitoba’s justice minister at the time described the surveillance as gravely concerning and called on the law society to investigate.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 21, 2023.
