Access to Justice
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March 31, 2026
The wizard behind the curtain; the judge beneath the robe: Act II
Toto, draw that curtain back some more. How do we pick our judges?
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March 30, 2026
N.B. to launch ‘centralized’ online bail hearings
New Brunswick is launching virtual bail hearings for select locations in a bid to free up court space, quicken access to justice and conserve resources. According to a recent news release, the launch is slotted for April 9 and will begin for “all bail hearings from Fredericton and Woodstock.”
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March 27, 2026
Bar association warns against premiers’ push to vet judicial picks
The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) is calling on the federal government to resist “politicization” of judicial appointments amid calls for change from several provincial leaders. CBA president Bianca Kratt, in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, said the process as it currently exists has “real strengths, above all its meaningful insulation from political considerations.”
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March 27, 2026
Is UFC ever coming to Toronto?
Anyone unfamiliar with the acronym “UFC” in Toronto’s family law world should be aware of the need for a Unified Family Court, not an Ultimate Fighting Championship. Although given the current state of access to justice, one could be forgiven for confusing the two.
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March 27, 2026
The wizard behind the curtain; the judge beneath the robe
I have been on a mission since my retirement in December 2021.
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March 27, 2026
Minor Charter breaches fail to outweigh serious firearm offence, Appeal Court rules
Does any Charter breach bring the administration of justice into dispute? That was the essential question posed to the Ontario Court of Appeal and answered in the recently released decision in R. v. Hosang, 2026 ONCA 51.
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March 26, 2026
Importance of police interrogation: Lessons from the Russell Williams case
Should police use strong-arm tactics in an effort to “get tough on crime”? The interrogation of Russell Williams by Jim Smyth is widely recognized as a classic example of a controlled, evidence-based confession strategy. Smyth’s approach was calm, patient and psychologically careful rather than aggressive. It resulted in a confession in one of Canada’s most highly publicized cases.
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March 25, 2026
Words matter when writing legal AI prompts
When writing AI prompts, lawyers shape perception and outcomes, so understanding the impact of words in AI prompts is crucial. Since language acts as a filter, the specific words and phrases used in a prompt influence the AI’s interpretation of legal concepts, potentially affecting recommendations or decisions. If terms are ambiguous or carry historical biases, the legal AI response can lead to unintended interpretations. Tailoring prompts to set the stage and include sufficient background information allows the legal AI to understand the user’s intent. With prompts that are clear and unambiguous, legal professionals can reduce the likelihood of misinterpretation in the legal AI output.
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March 25, 2026
Ontario Court of Appeal examines obligations of trial judge for self-represented accused
What assistance should a self-represented accused expect from the presiding judge during a trial? That question was recently addressed in an appeal before the Ontario Court of Appeal.
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March 25, 2026
Parole hearings: A response to Dorson article
It was with great interest that I started reading the article written by David Dorson in Law360 Canada on March 19.