Criminal
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April 12, 2024
APPEALS — Grounds — Misapprehension of or failure to consider evidence
Appeal by appellant from his conviction for sexual assault on grounds that the trial judge misapprehended the evidence on material issues, and that he erroneously treated the complainant as a child witness. The appellant and complainant were next door neighbours.
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April 11, 2024
Top court affirms privacy rights for IP addresses
On March 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that an Internet Protocol (IP) address should be considered private. Police require judicial approval before asking for an IP address from an internet provider. This decision in R. v. Bykovets, 2024 SCC 6, made by a narrow majority of five judges, will likely spark more discussion in the future.
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April 11, 2024
B.C. introduces legislation on legal profession reform; law society, bar association opposed
The B.C. government has unveiled long-promised legislation to bring lawyers, paralegals and notaries under the umbrella of one regulator. But the provincial law society and bar association have both come out swinging against the proposals, saying they would erode the independence of the legal profession.
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April 11, 2024
Eclipse of tradition: AI’s ascendancy in the legal era | Maria Mahmoudian
In recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the field of law has revolutionized legal practice, reshaping how legal professionals approach research, document analysis and decision-making. From enhancing efficiency to improving accuracy, AI technologies have brought about significant changes that have both benefited and challenged legal practitioners worldwide.
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April 11, 2024
Where money laundering meets intellectual property
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape of the 21st century, the concept of intellectual property (IP) has become increasingly significant. With advancements in technology and the growth of the global economy, the protection and enforcement of IP rights have become more crucial than ever.
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April 11, 2024
Judge: ‘Two sides to every story’
Sometimes, it is fortunate not to have a jury trial. No doubt that will be the feeling of D.A., who was convicted of sexual assault in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on April 11, 2022 (R. v. D.A., 2022 ONSC 1920). The presiding judge was Justice Michael N. Varpio, who, at the time of his appointment in 2013, was the northeast region’s youngest Superior Court judge. According to a report published in The Sault Star on Jan. 24, 2013, the time of his swearing-in ceremony, the newly appointed judge had a motto: There are two sides to every story.
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April 10, 2024
Saskatchewan expanding law student placements in name of access to justice
In efforts to increase access to justice in rural, underserved areas, Saskatchewan is expanding “practical learning placements” for College of Law students willing to travel. According to an April 1 news release, the province’s government is investing $100,000 in “new practical learning opportunities” for students at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law — provided they are willing to “work in different communities for the term of their placements.”
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April 10, 2024
Yes, defendant should be present for entire criminal trial
We are at a stage of specialization in law where it is readily acknowledged that a lawyer can only be an expert in some areas of practice. However, it must also be recognized that when lawyers hold themselves out as criminal defence counsel, they should be conversant with the Criminal Code.
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April 10, 2024
Using AI to bring value to organizations | Connie L. Braun and Juliana Saxberg
For every risk inherent in AI adoption, there is a counter-argument that AI has the potential to unlock benefits and solve real-world problems that have heretofore eluded human capability. Machine Learning technologies are already recognized to be advancing medical research and patient care, improving decision-making, mitigating climate change and distributing food aid more effectively, among other benefits.
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April 09, 2024
Yukon gets feedback on sex assault response team
Sex assault victims and other “stakeholders” in Yukon are calling on the territory’s government to boost the promotion of victim resources, increase the number of safe houses and develop a “clear policy” for the use of evidence collection kits. These are just a few recommendations made to the Yukon government after it had requested feedback on plans to expand its Sexualized Assault Response Team (SART) to rural communities within the territory.