John Reilly - Bad Judgment -- Revised and Updated: The Myths of First Nations Equality and Judicial Independence in Canada

I dont really consider myself an author, but I had a story to tell and it was only through the encouragement and support of many of my friends that I was able to tell part one of it in my first book, Bad Medicine: A Judges Struggle for Justice in a First Nations Community . That work had its genesis at the Georgetown Research Institute when Bob Sandford facetiously told me that the institute was a literary club and in order to be a member I would have to publish.

The Georgetown Research Institute is the impressive sounding name used by a group of learned Canadians who gather weekly at the Georgetown Inn in Canmore and solve the worlds problems over a few glasses of ale. Bob initiated the discussion, but I have also appreciated the support and encouragement of the other members of the institute: Joost Aalsberg, Paul Carrick, Sally Guerin, Rick Hester, Peter Nichol, Lawrence Nyman, Dave Palmer, Keith Paynter, Brent Pickard and Peter Rollason.

Bob Sandford is the author or editor of over 25 books on environmental policy and on the history and heritage of the Canadian West. He began his work with UN-linked initiatives as chair of the United Nations International Year of Mountains in 2002. He also chaired the United Nations International Year of Fresh Water and Wonder of Water Initiative in Canada in 200304. He is currently the Epcor Chair of the Canadian Partnership Initiative in support of United Nations Water for Life Decade.

It was Bob who introduced me to Don Gorman, the publisher of Rocky Mountain Books, now called RMB . Don suggested the title Bad Medicine , and in doing so, also gave me the inspiration for the title of the present book.

Also at RMB , editor Joe Wilderson has been a pleasure to work with. His improvements on my somewhat amateurish manuscripts have transformed them into very professional appearing books.

I would like to thank John Martland, QC , for reading and commenting on the manuscript. His remarks had me remove some unnecessarily inflammatory material, which may allow the book to be published without litigation.

Thanks also to retired Judge Doug McDonald, who took the author photo used on the back cover. He won second place with that image at the Sooke Annual Fair. Im embarrassed by how much I like it.

It was difficult for me to focus on writing this account. I found it almost impossible to work at home, because there were so many distractions and easy excuses to do something else. For this reason I did much of the writing away from home: with my son, Sean, and his wife, Alice, in Taichung, Taiwan; at Alan and Jacquie Kays condo in Kaslo, British Columbia; at Ron Englands home on South Pender Island, BC ; and at Nancy Spratt and Mark and Jack Robinsons weekend home in Canmore, Alberta. I thank you all for giving me the space I needed.

I wish to acknowledge as well the many people who encouraged me, both in the events described and in the writing about those events: Carmen Beck; John Chief Moon; Keith Chief Moon; Ron Davey; Mary Lou Davis; Mike and Lise Dove; Charlotte England; Chris Evans, qc ; Harley and Lois Frank; Tina Fox; Anne Georgeson; Cheryl Goodwill; Sandra Hamilton; Warren and Mary Anna Harbeck; Paul and Sharon Hatfield; Susan Kurtz; Floyd Many Fingers; Martha Many Gray Horses; Lorraine Parker; Gail Patrick; Marjorie Powderface; Peter Poole; Donna Potter; Roland Rollinmud; Ron and Sally Starchuck; Judy Tilley; Greg Twoyoungmen; Helmer Twoyoungmen; Preston Twoyoungmen; Syd and Frances Wood and many others who pressed me to get the next book out.