A Quebec Superior Court judge returned to the bench after being investigated for allegedly buying cocaine is once again under investigation after the federal and provincial justice ministers jointly requested that the case be reopened. 

Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and Quebec Justice Minister Stéphanie Vallée jointly wrote to the Canadian Judicial Council, a federal watchdog tasked with improving the work of Canada’s superior courts as well as reviewing allegations made against judges, asking it to take a second look at the case. 

Justice Michel Girouard is alleged to have bought cocaine numerous times prior to being appointed to the bench.

In 2010, video evidence tying him to a convicted drug dealer led François Rolland, then chief justice of the Superior Court of Quebec, to ask for a review. 

The council’s inquiry team determined that on the “balance of probabilities,” the cocaine allegations could not be proven. They argued, however, that Girouard’s testimony in the case was not credible and said he should be removed from the bench for that reason. 

“If Justice Girouard were to continue as a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, this would, in our opinion, undermine public confidence in the entire judicial system,” the report advised. 

Regardless, the watchdog returned Girouard to his position.