Kitchener Justice of the Peace facing allegation of judicial misconduct for behaviour toward colleague

A Kitchener Justice of the Peace could be facing consequences despite being found not guilty of criminal harassment last year. CTV’s Jeff Pickel reports.

A hearing will be delving into the behaviour of a Justice of the Peace from Kitchener, Ont.

The Justices of the Peace Review Council said they received a complaint about the conduct of Justice of the Peace James Ziegler of the Ontario Court of Justice. Ziegler has been accused of treating a fellow Justice of the Peace inappropriately on April 19, 2024.

“The allegations include that Justice of the Peace Ziegler entered the colleague’s chambers uninvited and, after closing the door, made repeated, unsolicited declarations of a sexual nature toward the colleague,” a notice from the review council stated. “The colleague repeatedly told Justice of the Peace Ziegler that his advances were unwelcome and asked him to stop. After a period of about 30 minutes, Justice of the Peace Ziegler left the colleague’s chambers.”

The notice also said he tried to contact his female colleague again later that day and she requested a security escort when she left the courthouse because she was worried about her safety.

A complaint was filed and it was investigated by a three-person committee. That committee determined a hearing was warranted.

A hearing panel has scheduled an initial appearance on August 28 to set the dates for the formal hearing.

In the meantime, Ziegler has been unassigned from all judicial duties until the outcome of the hearing is decided.

If the hearing panel decides Ziegler should face consequences for his alleged actions, he could receive a formal warning, a reprimand, be ordered to apologize, be ordered to seek education or treatment, be suspended with pay for any length of time or be suspended without pay, but with benefits, for up to 30 days. The panel can also recommend the Attorney General remove him from office.

Previously found not guilty

Ziegler has already faced allegations for his alleged behaviour on April 19. He was charged with criminal harassment and forcible confinement, but he was ultimately found not guilty in December 2025.

The judge who presided over that trial called Ziegler’s actions unprofessional, but acquitted him, saying in part, “with the only evidence of [the complainant’s] state of mind indicating emotional distress, I cannot conclude that [Ziegler] knew or was even capable of perceiving that his conduct was causing [the complainant] to be afraid and feel that she was trapped in her office.”