How this global pandemic has changed things for the better in our criminal justice system The world is experiencing a pandemic that has been unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. While all of us have been affected individually, the criminal justice system has not been exempt from the effects of COVID-19. It too, serving […]
CRIMINAL | The Right to be Tried Without Undue Delay
January 7, 2020 By Charles Davison
20/20: Looking back over the last 20 years Since the turn of the century, there are many – too numerous to count – “important cases” in the field of criminal law. Some have dealt with procedure, some with the substantive law, and some with enhancing and protecting the basic rights of Canadians. However, as shall […]
VIP Access to Justice: Why state-funded counsel is crucial to our democratic identity
July 4, 2019 By Melody Izadi
Access to justice is always a live issue, no matter how developed a country may be. Luckily, in Canada, our justice system rivals some of the best in the world. However, there is still concern for those who represent themselves in the criminal justice system. After all, criminal matters have a unique way of affecting […]
To Stop or not To Stop? Police Carding Practices
May 3, 2019 By Melody Izadi
In R. v. Omar, 2018 ONCA 975 (CanLII), the Ontario Court of Appeal has rubber stamped the illegality of what is commonly referred to as carding, declaring that “[Everyone has] every right to be walking down the street unimpeded by the police” (at para 51). In a stunning decision where the Crown’s case rested solely […]
Convicted on Sexism: How does sexist reasoning in favour of the complainant work in today’s #metoo culture?
March 5, 2019 By Melody Izadi
In R. v. J.L. 2018 ONCA 756, The Ontario Court of Appeal allowed the appeal of an accused who was convicted of sexual assault. The trial judge convicted the accused because he felt that the complainant would not engage in the acts as described by the accused because she was a young woman. The alleged […]
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