Councillor Brian Skakun was in BC Supreme Court on Tuesday to ask Mr. Justice Robert Crawford to stop Prince George city council's attempts to punish him.
Council, it was testified in the morning session of court, has indicated its intention to pursue sanctions against Skakun for his leaking of a private document to the media three years ago. He was convicted for this in May (the matter is under appeal) and he was assessed a fine.
Skakun's lawyer Jon Duncan submitted arguments to the court that city councils have no jurisdiction to impose punishments for such matters and furthermore that, appeals notwithstanding, Skakun has been duly punished by the appropriate body: court.
It is expected that City of Prince George's counsel Barry Williamson will, during the afternoon sitting, present arguments suggesting that such penalties are within the legal rights of an elected council.
