François Rolland
male Chief Magistrate was needed for Referendumland. He sits throned beside The Green Queen, presiding at the Trial of the Tarts. Several real-life men were available on whom to base the character. The one chosen, François Rolland, comes from the law firm, Fasken Martineau, which has defended the Communist referendums to “secede” in Quebec as co-counsel1 with the Quebec Justice Department. Rolland has also done the pro-Soviets a little favor. As an ordinary judge of the section 96 court, the Quebec Superior Court, he initiated the practise of judicially declaring litigants mad.2 This may have won him his promotion to Chief Justice of Quebec Superior Court. Rolland therefore deserves the honor of the role of Chief Magistrate in Referendumland.
“Order! Order, I say! Order in the court!
Off with her head!”
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1 “Fasken Martineau” was known at the time as Martineau Walker, co-counsel together with Saint-Laurent Boucher Gagnon for the Attorney General of Quebec (Paul Bégin) in the file known as “Bertrand No. 1” with the following citations: Bertrand c. Québec (Procureur général), filed 11 August 1995 (S.C. 200 05-002117-955) (1995), 127 D.L.R. (4th) 408, (sub nom. Bertrand c. Bégin) [1995] R.J.Q. 2500, 1995 CarswellQue 131 (Que. S.c (4th) 408, (sub nom. Bertrand c. Bégin) [1995] R.J.Q. 2500, 1995 CarswellQue 131 (Que. S.C.). Also see: Roopnarine Singh et al. v. Attorney General of Quebec, filed 23 October 1995 (S.C. 500 05 011275 593). By the time Martineau Walker has become Fasken Martineau, they sit again as co-counsel for the Quebec Attorney General in: Henderson et al v. AG Quebec, filed 10 May 2001 (S.C. 500 05-065031-013) Quebec (Procureur general) c Henderson, 220 D.L.R. (4th) 691, [2002] R.J.Q. 2435, 2002 CarswellQue 1711, J.E. 2002-1672, REJB 2002-33374 (C.S. Que. Aug 16, 2002).
2 York v. Paskell-Mede.