Criminal
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April 25, 2024
Former SNC-Lavalin executive sentenced to 42 months in bridge repair bribery case
A former executive with engineering firm SNC-Lavalin has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme to obtain a bridge repair contract in Montreal, according to a release by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
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April 25, 2024
Might courts be partly to blame for court backlog?
The backlog in Ontario’s criminal courts has received much publicity. Recently, two high-profile cases have been stayed because there is a shortage of Superior Court judges available to reduce the strain now apparent in the criminal justice system.
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April 24, 2024
Decision beneficial in understanding law on making arrangement to commit sexual offence, lawyer says
Ontario’s top court has ordered a new trial for a man who was acquitted on charges of making an arrangement to commit a sexual offence against two underage girls who were later found to be the fictional creation of an FBI agent.
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April 24, 2024
The death of Walter Gillespie | Sam Goldstein
Walter Gillespie, a New Brunswick man who spent more than a score of years in jail for a murder he did not commit, died last week, a few months after being exonerated for murder. Alas, the wheels of justice ground exceedingly slowly for Gillespie. As James Lockyer, who fought for Gillespie’s exoneration, told The Globe and Mail, “We’re just glad he managed to clear his name before he died.”
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April 24, 2024
The life of Wally Gillespie: A study in strength of character and friendship | Ron Dalton
After 80 years, Walter Francis Gillespie left us on Fri., April 19, 2024. Wally, as he was known to one and all, was a remarkable man in many understated ways.
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April 24, 2024
Circumstances surrounding firearm cited in reversal of acquittal
Unlike the portrayal of American justice in popular media, when a defendant is acquitted at trial once and for all, the Canadian legal system operates with a somewhat different approach. It is unusual for an acquittal to be set aside on appeal, but it sometimes happens. This necessitates the Crown demonstrating a significant error in law that substantially impacted the acquittal. This distinctiveness of our legal system might surprise many.
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April 23, 2024
N.S. gets new justice minister amid comments controversy
Nova Scotia has a new justice minister following the sudden resignation of Brad Johns, who stepped down after making controversial comments about domestic violence.
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April 23, 2024
AI, protecting yourself from bad actors | Connie L. Braun and Juliana Saxberg
While it is true that many people believe that laws and regulations are enacted only to limit us, laws and regulations are actually in place to guide us about how to conduct ourselves properly in life and business. Common standards and shared values, consideration of others and responsible behaviour all contribute to a society that functions well. Some people will use tools, intended for good, in harmful ways — ways that disregard laws and regulations. The same applies to the use of AI, with individuals finding ways to impersonate, cheat, manipulate and deceive — anything you can think of to exploit others.
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April 23, 2024
Elected officials, police, justice system responsible for Zameer tragedy | John L. Hill
The days following the accidental killing of police Constable Jeffrey Northrup by being struck by a vehicle driven by 34-year-old accountant Umar Zameer in an underground parking garage at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on July 2, 2021, have been a nightmare for Zameer and his family.
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April 22, 2024
SCC’s spring session features weighty constitutional & admin law appeals but case volume is light
Constitutional and administrative law cases dominate at the Supreme Court of Canada this spring, with the handful of appeals to be heard involving class actions, standard of review, the honour of the Crown and the right to vote.