An Ottawa judge quoted Shakespeare when sentencing a 69-year-old sex offender recently. The offender had assaulted his neighbour in her home after taking her out for a birthday dinner. The Judge referenced Act 1 Scene VII of MacBeth: “He’s here in double trust. First, I am his kinsman and his … [Read more...]
Bench Press 38-5: Some Bones to Pick
Poor Richard III! Shakespeare’s play portrays him as a villain and a murderer. Killed in battle 500 years ago, his remains were discovered in 2012 under a parking lot in Leister, England. Another battle ensued about where to bury him. The Government had granted a burial license to the City of … [Read more...]
Bench Press 38-5: Justice is Blind
The Alberta Court of Appeal recently faced an interesting dilemma when pondering how to sentence a legally blind man. The accused had been found guilty of sexual assault. He was legally blind and had used a guide dog since he was 17. The trial judge feared for his safety in prison and worried that … [Read more...]
Bench Press 38-5: Balancing Work and Family
Fiona Johnstone began a long odyssey through Canadian courts when she encountered difficulties in finding childcare for her two toddlers so that she could continue to work for Canada Border Services. A childcare expert testified that Ms Johnstone faced a very difficult work environment: different … [Read more...]
Vol 38-4: Language and the Law
Full PDF of this issue Table of Contents Featured Articles: Language and the Law Special Report: The Law and Persons with Disabilities Departments Columns Featured Articles: Language and the Law The choices we make in language – words, even punctuation – can shape legal … [Read more...]
Vol 38-3: When It Hurts to be Home
Full PDF of this issue Table of Contents Featured Articles: When it Hurts to be Home Special Report: The Law of Lost and Found Departments Columns Featured Articles: When It Hurts to be Home What happens when your home is not a safe and welcoming place? The law can help; … [Read more...]
What’s happening with Truth and Reconciliation in Canada?
At the end of March 2014, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada held its last national gathering in Edmonton, Alberta. It now has one more year to finish poring through mountains of documents and to compile its report. It seems an apt time to pull together some online resources that can … [Read more...]
Whatever Happened to … Mustapha v. Culligan: “Judge, There was a Fly in my Water!”
On November 21, 2001, while Waddah Mustapha and his wife were replacing the water dispenser at home, they spotted a dead fly and part of another inside the new, sealed Culligan water bottle. At the sight of the fly, Mrs. Mustapha vomited immediately. Mr. Mustapha became nauseous and suffered of … [Read more...]
A Brief Primer on Child Support: Part Two
This article is the second of a two-part series on the basics of child support. In the first article I talked about who can ask for support and who has to pay it. In this article, I’ll talk about how much child support is paid, including how children’s extraordinary expenses are covered. How Much … [Read more...]
Navigate Legal Information with Alberta Law Libraries: Copyright
If you are creator or publisher of original creative works, you will want to know about copyright law. The digital world has made the practical application of copyright more complicated than in the past. What about downloading and file sharing, what about digital rights management? And, in our … [Read more...]
