Jamie Sarkonak: N.B. judge invents the Aboriginal right to be represented by an elder in court

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNP Comment Jamie Sarkonak: N.B. judge invents the Aboriginal right to be represented by an elder in court A man accused of lobster poaching argued that the Constitution gives him the right to use an elder instead of a lawyer in court ... and won Author of the article: By Jamie Sarkonak Published Sep 21, 2026 Last updated 12 minutes ago 5 minute read Join the conversation The Saint John Law Courts. PHOTO BY ANDREW BATES/BRUNSWICK NEWS Article content One of Canada’s most notorious ex-lawyers practicing fake law is named Glenn Bogue, but courts often dignify him by using his ludicrous stage name, “Spirit Warrior.” He’s an Indigenous sovereigntist who self-identifies as an “unconquered Métis man”; essentially, the LandBack version of a freeman on the land. Article content When he’s not fighting the law society that suspended his licence in 2019 (and revoked it in June) for breaching the rules of the profession, he’s playing the advocate. He takes “clients” and tries to represent them on the basis that the Canadian state and courts have no authority to tell them what to do, and demands millions, sometimes billions, in debt relief or payments from the Crown. His attempts at lawyering are usually shut down in court — but that could change, if a recent decision out of New Brunswick catches on across the country. Article content RECOMMENDED VIDEOS Article content Article content In the decision, posted online Sept. 1, Judge Martin Goguen declared that it’s unconstitutional to bar Indigenous elders (or delegates, or “sachem” — tribal leaders) from representing Indigenous clients in provincial court on minor offences. This was just the ruling of one low-ranked judge who can’t set precedent anywhere in the country, but if higher courts liked his thinking, Bogue might be able to pursue a legitimate career in pseudolaw. While courts can oust him for being a vexatious litigant at present, a constitutional right of Indigenous people to be represented by peers could force judges to take him seriously instead of kicking him out. Article content Channel Israel Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse…