For her representation motion, Nordlander partly relied on a web page that said a court may allow non-lawyer agents to represent litigants unless the agent has been shown to be incompetent, is in trouble with the law, or would damage the fairness of the proceedings.
"The webpage extract is a perfect example of how unreliable the Internet is as a source of information," Justice Jamie Trimble said. "The unattributed, anonymous statement of law this [website] provides and on which Ms. Nalli relies, like so much on the Internet, should not be accepted blindly or uncritically.
"This 'advice' is just wrong," he added.
The agent would also have to be bound in law by confidentiality laws and carry liability insurance, the judge said, adding Nordlander did not present proof of any of this.
Vernon Beck, the agent Nordlander wanted to be represented by, is the founder of an organization called Canada Court Watch. He says for 20 years, he's provided information and support to families caught up in the system for free and has previously been granted approval by a court to represent a 16-year-old pregnant girl in a child protection matter.
If people choose to be represented by a non-lawyer, they should be allowed to, he tells Legal Feeds.
For her part, Nordlander says the case is being compromised by her self-representation and she is at her wits' end.
"I wanted somebody to speak for me because it's too emotional for me," she says. "I get a lot of anxiety from court," she adds, noting she's now looking for lawyer who would help her pro bono.
I am acting as an agent .
I am acting as an agent with permission of a judge from the NS court of appeal. The appellants had to sign a court waiver stating they understand the risks, etc. Why are some judges like that? It is just wrong, that judge most likely knows that Mr. Beck is experienced in the court system and with family realted laws. What can a person do when faced with government interference into their family and are not allowed to defend themselves? I can give the court page that shows I am an agent and a copy of the form provided by the court entitled REPRESENTATION BY AN AGENT INFORMATION SHEET.