The Hon Greg Regis

This second interview with Justice Gregory Regis continues his career narrative, focusing on his transition from community legal work to the Crown Attorney’s office in Durham Region in 1990. Regis discusses the challenges he faced as the first Black Assistant Crown Attorney in Durham, including initial suspicion from police officers who questioned his friendship with activist Dudley Laws. He describes the stress of working through the Askov decision period, when thousands of cases had to be withdrawn due to unreasonable delays, and his evolution into handling serious cases including murder trials.

The interview extensively covers Regis’s 1999 appointment to the Ontario Court of Justice and his subsequent role as Regional Senior Justice for Central East Region beginning in 2007. He reflects on the isolation that comes with judicial appointment, losing social connections due to ethical constraints, and the responsibility he feels as a role model for the Black community. Regis discusses his efforts to improve access to justice through administrative changes like expanding bail courts and his observations about declining courtroom standards among lawyers.

Throughout the interview, Regis addresses broader themes including literacy issues in the justice system, the need for greater diversity on the bench, and his commitment to rehabilitation over incarceration. He also discusses his extensive community involvement before becoming a judge, including work with police relations committees and Caribbean development organizations, activities he had to cease upon judicial appointment.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.