In exploring how mandatory minimums and fines are being treated by the judiciary, authors Lincoln Caylor and Gannon Beaulne note that it should go without saying that judicial independence is a cardinal value in Canada. They argue that judges who ignore the rule of law and make decisions according to their personal views of justice in the face of dear legislation to the contrary are not honouring the independence of the judiciary. Rather, they are assaulting the justice system and offending the duties of their office. Originally published in Inside Policy - The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute (April 2014).