Special SACPA today to discuss jury selection

Two of the more contentious trials of recent memory in Canada will be discussed at a special SACPA session today.

Speaker Ingrid Hess will present “Did the Accused Killers of Colten Boushie and Tina Fontaine Benefit from the Current Practice of Jury Selection?” as part of an event set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion.

Hess is a lawyer from Lethbridge who has been practising for more than 20 years, mostly on criminal defence work. She has worked extensively with clients of indigenous background, while her eldest son is a member of the Big Stone Cree Nation and her younger two are both Blood Tribe members.

Not-guilty verdicts arrived recently in two separate murder cases involving First Nations victims — Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie — and have arguably yet again exposed Canada’s justice system as failing indigenous people.

The speaker will explain Canada’s jury selection system and argue that it needs a serious overhaul. She will also contend that unless we come to terms with the staggering amount of racism that still exists in our institutions, and in our society as a whole towards indigenous people in Canada, not much will change.

Today’s special session is at the Royal Canadian Legion and begins at 11:30 a.m. with a $14 buffet lunch, followed at 12:15 p.m. with the presentation, then a Q and A at 1 p.m.