THUNDER BAY - A hearing will be held regarding complaints against a Thunder Bay Justice of the Peace alleging misconduct on a legal matter involving a family member.
According to a notice of hearing, it is alleged Justice of the Peace Anna Gibbon of the Ontario Court of Justice “acted as an advocate for her son in respect of his legal matter and attempted to persuade, threaten and/or intimidate the prosecutor, the Supervisor of Court Services and/or the Regional Senior Justice of the Peace into having the charge against her son withdrawn or stayed.”
The notice goes on to say that Gibbon invited judicial officers presiding over her son’s matter to her house for dinner.
“Her Worship disclosed confidential information about the Council’s investigation into her conduct to a court clerk and made disparaging remarks to the court clerk about court staff,” the notice reads. “Her Worship abused her position of judicial office and failed to uphold the integrity, impartiality and independence of judicial office.”
A hearing panel was first convened on Jan. 27, 2021, where a pre-hearing conference was ordered. The matter was heard again on April 6 by teleconference and Eugene Bhattacharya, counsel for Gibbon, argued hearing dates should not be set until additional discourse is received and a second pre-hearing conference convened.
“Presenting Counsel indicated that she would be bringing a motion to withdraw some of the allegations ordered to a hearing,” the notice reads.
The motion will be heard on April 28, after which hearing dates will be set.
The decision to hold the hearing followed an investigation by a three-person complaint committee consisting of a judge, a Justice of the Peace, and a community or lawyer member.
If the complaints are upheld, Gibbon could face a warning, a reprimand, be ordered to apologize, suspended with pay for any period of time, or suspended without pay for 30 days.
Gibbon has been reassigned to another court location as recommended by the complaints committee pending the final disposition of the complaint.
Presenting Counsel are Linda Rothstein and Alysha Shore of Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP.
Gibbon served as the city of Thunder Bay's first Aboriginal liaison from 2008 to 2013 when she was appointed Justice of the Peace for the Ontario Court of Justice.
None of the allegations have been proven.
