QUOTED: Rob Ford, on whether he thinks he will win his appeal hearing

I believe in the judicial system.

—mayor-for-now Rob Ford, on his optimism that a three-judge panel at the Court of Appeal will overturn Justice Charles Hackland’s decision that ordered him out of office for a conflict-of-interest violation. The mayor also said he was feeling “good” and “very happy” with the proceedings after appearing in court today alongside lawyer Alan Lenczner, who attacked several aspects of Hackland’s decision and made an impassioned defense of his client’s honest character. His courtroom foe Clayton Ruby, unsurprisingly, disagreed. The appeal judges will likely take several weeks to render their decision, which will, once and for all, determine whether Ford will remain in office, or whether Toronto will have to find a new mayor, either through a by-election or by council appointment. [Toronto Sun]