Earlier today, February 9, Justice Catliff of the British Columbia Supreme
Court ordered that Renee Boje be surrendered for extradition to the US on
all counts. Her charges include possession, production, conspiracy to
possess, conspiracy to produce and conspiracy to traffic in marijuana. The
US prosecution had asked the judge to set bail at a half million dollars.
Boje's lawyer, John Conroy, appealed the ruling immediately and had Boje out
on $5,000 bail later that day.
Justice Catliff's unusually brief seven-page decision was heavily weighted
in favour of the US prosecution. After the trial, Conroy commented on
Catliff's decision, explaining that the judge really had little power to
rule in favour of Boje.
"The role of the judge at this stage is really narrow compared to the
following stages," said Conroy.
The next step is for Boje's case to proceed to the Minister of Justice, Anne
McLellan, before it goes on to the Appeal Court of British Columbia. The
Justice Minister can release Boje under sections 44 or 46 of the Extradition
Act, should the minister be "satisfied that surrender would be unjust or
oppressive," or that "the conduct in respect of which extradition is sought
is a political offence or an offence of a political character."
"I am now in the hands of the public and the Canadian MInister of Justice,"
said Boje. "If enough people send in letters of support to the minister
before March 10, I have faith that the minister will make a compassionate
decision."
Should Boje be extradited despite attempts to appeal Catliff's decision, she
faces an unusually oppressive sentence.
"The US is still saying that if they get her they will subject her to a
minimum ten years," explained Conroy.
Hilary Black, founder of the Vancouver Compassion Club, was visibly
disturbed by the ruling.
"Today's ruling greatly saddens me in the face of all the progress and
tolerance today," said Black. "It is hard to see a wonderful woman like
Renee being sent south of the border to rot in a cage while here I am being
condoned by Provincial Court judges."
Tomorrow Renee will be sending out instructions on how to write letters to
the minister. Please help her by writing a letter. It could be the
difference between 10 years in jail or freedom for a dedicated and beautiful
spirit.
