But what about the children?

Federal justice minister seeks advice :

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler has called a meeting of experts to discuss how the selection of federal judges can be improved. Talks with leaders of judicial advisory committees from across Canada are tentatively planned for early June. But Cotler says he first requested the brainstorming session long before claims of related cronyism rocked the already teetering Liberal government. "I asked for this some time ago - before all this broke," Cotler said in an interview with The Canadian Press,

Really? Only a few weeks ago, after Benoit Corbeil's bombshell allegations that judges were appointed on the basis of their services to the Liberal party, the Justice minister was insisting the appointments process was rigorously non-partisan and wholly above reproach. Any suggestion to the contrary was -- well, you might as well say there was no Santa Claus:

When asked if he was bothered by Corbeil's comments, Cotler became impassioned. "What bothers me is when I hear allegations of corruption of the judiciary. What bothers me is when I see public out there, my children and anybody else, you know, having their confidence in the administration of justice undermined." "What bothers me is that people should make any kind of insinuation that any appointment is based on any other considerations than merit."

Doesn't sound like they'll have much to discuss. MORE: John Crosbie takes a different view.