Lana Morelli, a veteran prosecutor, expressed her desire to pay tribute to Canadian war veterans within the courtroom where they fought to defend the country. However, she was informed via email that wearing a poppy on her gown is not permitted due to a court “practice directive.”
Morelli disagreed with the directive’s rationale, stating that allowing poppies on gowns could lead to a precedent for other adornments or requests. She emphasized the importance of uniformity in courtroom attire to avoid disparities among individuals.
Despite the restriction, Morelli felt it was ironic that honoring veterans in a legal setting was prohibited. She highlighted the sacrifices made by brave men and women for freedom of speech and expressed emotional distress at not being able to honor them by wearing poppies while advocating for freedom and protection.
When asked about her personal motivation for taking a stand, Morelli revealed her family’s military background and personal connections to veterans. Although she is not currently wearing a poppy, she displayed one in the courtroom on top of her copy of the Canadian Criminal Code.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed the existence of a directive on appropriate court attire and cited provincial legislation regarding wearing poppies. The Saskatchewan Remembrance Observance Act allows employees to wear poppies in the workplace unless it poses a safety risk. The spokesperson emphasized the judiciary’s autonomy in setting courtroom attire rules and mentioned ongoing efforts to clarify the matter.
The spokesperson did not specify whether the court had previously enforced the directive on wearing poppies in court.