Criminal
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June 27, 2025
Why Ontario appeal court took ‘drastic step’ in impaired case
Can a revolving door be slammed in a person’s face? As unlikely as that might seem, it is what the Ontario Court of Appeal did to self-represented Melissa Hart in its recent judgment, R. v. Hart, 2025 ONCA 451.
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June 26, 2025
Severe prison overcrowding in Ontario requires urgent government action, warns ombudsman
Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé is calling on the government of Premier Doug Ford to act urgently to address a prison overcrowding crisis that helped lead to a December 2023 incident at Milton, Ont.’s Maplehurst Correctional Complex, when nearly 200 inmates were forcibly removed from their cells using flash grenades, had their wrists zip-tied, were stripped to their underwear and were forced to sit on the floor facing the walls while the temperature was lowered.
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June 26, 2025
Grey market revisited
As asked in a recent decision of the Federal Court, when is a TOYOTA bumper no longer a TOYOTA brand product? According to the plaintiffs, when it’s damaged during shipment by a grey marketer. The defendant disagrees (Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation) v. Marrand Auto Inc., 2025 FC 1105).
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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
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
N.W.T. seeks input on regulations for new missing persons legislation
The Government of the Northwest Territories is seeking residents’ feedback on new legislation designed to help support police investigate cases of people gone missing.
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June 25, 2025
Deaths from illegal drug supply fell 17% in 2024; thousands who died were men, many in their 30s
There were more than 7,000 opioid-related drug toxicity deaths in Canada last year — 20 people per day — an overdose crisis primarily driven by a toxic illegal drug supply, according to the latest data reported by the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health and the Chief Coroners and Chief Medical Examiners.
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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
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.