NAN to seek status in landmark case

Nishnawbe Aski Nation will seek intervener status in R. v. Kokopenace, a landmark case the Supreme Court of Canada will hear regarding the underrepresentation of First Nation people on jury rolls. “The Supreme Court will now be able to address the crisis that the Government of Ontario has put the province in with respect to the alienation of First Nations from the justice system,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler in a news release. In its June 14, 2013 decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal allowed the appeal of R. v. Kokopenace, rejecting Crown arguments as to the legality of the Kenora jury roll in a manslaughter case. NAN’s efforts to secure a review of the jury roll followed revelations during the Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of Jamie Goodwin and Ricardo Wesley in 2008 that the Kenora Judicial District jury roll contained names of First Nations people from only 14 of NAN’s 49 First Nations. Frank Iacobucci was appointed to report on First Nation representation on Ontario jury rolls in August 2011 following court decisions questioning the validity of Ontario jury rolls with respect to representation by First Nations. His report, First Nations Representation on Ontario Juries, was released in February 2013 and included 17 recommendations to ensure enhanced representation on the jury roll.