Access to Justice
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June 26, 2025
Rock and law: Defying authority and shattering conventions
Long a cultural battleground, rock and roll fills a space where artistic expression vibrates with the energy of rebellion and the spirit of freedom. Yet, beneath the raw sound and electrifying performances lies a fascinating interplay with the law. Legal themes permeate rock and roll, influencing everything from censorship battles to intellectual property disputes and social justice.
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June 26, 2025
Ontario law society benchers tackle governance, family law reforms at June meeting
Benchers of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) met at convocation on June 25 with their newly re-elected leader pledging to restore trust in the regulator after a pay scandal surrounding its former CEO.
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June 26, 2025
Appeal court recognizes convicted mom’s progress in fentanyl case
Can defence counsel in a criminal appeal claim victory only if the client is acquitted? Arguably, defence counsel Thomas Balka achieved a significant win by persuading the Ontario Court of Appeal to examine the term “specific deterrence” closely. Balka appeared for Sarah Richer in the recently released case of R. v. Richer, 2025 ONCA 439.
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June 25, 2025
Appeal Court finds complainant’s statement lacked ‘sufficient reliability’
Just after midnight on Dec. 26, 2022, JH called 911 to report that someone had entered her apartment on Christmas Day. She couldn’t identify the intruder during the 911 call but later named Preston Cardinal as the suspect.
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June 24, 2025
Nova Scotia court confirms ‘some basis in fact’ standard for class action certification evidence
The evidentiary burden to certify a class action remains low, but the “some basis in fact” standard must still be satisfied through admissible evidence, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court has confirmed.
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June 24, 2025
Reconciling access to justice and pragmatism in Supreme Court interventions: The path forward
The Supreme Court of Canada should revisit its current policy governing appearances by counsel for interveners in hearings and references in a manner that reconciles access to justice and pragmatism. The proposed solution is to allow interveners to choose between appearing before the court in person and appearing virtually using existing Supreme Court technological infrastructure.
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June 24, 2025
Have your voice heard: Take Law360 Canada’s 2025 survey on lawyer satisfaction
Law360 Canada is seeking participants for an anonymous survey on career and life satisfaction in the legal profession. Take the survey in English or French.
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June 24, 2025
Moncton mental health, addiction court program to start next year
New Brunswick will be opening a new addiction and mental health criminal court program in the city of Moncton next year — but it will be available only to those facing less serous charges.
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June 24, 2025
Australian law encompasses best interests for all concerned in pet custody cases
We live in multi-species families with humans and non-human animals co-existing. Companion animals are considered family members by most people, and fortunately legislation in various parts of the world is starting to recognize this fact.
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June 23, 2025
Ontario Court of Appeal slashes $700K costs award in rental dispute due to ‘chilling effect’
The Ontario Court of Appeal has significantly cut a costs award in a hard-fought landlord-tenant dispute on Toronto’s tony “Mink Mile,” finding the legal fees were “concerning” and the motion judge’s high tally could contribute to a chilling effect on litigation.