Criminal

  • January 20, 2025

    SENTENCING - Harassment and threatening - Assaults - Robbery - Particular sanctions - Mitigating factors

    Application by Joseph for leave to appeal and, if leave granted, appeal from global sentence of seven years' imprisonment, less credit for pre-trial custody.

  • January 17, 2025

    Yukon community groups get funding for crime victims

    Numerous “community-led” projects aimed at helping crime victims in Yukon are benefiting from a dedicated trust fund.

  • January 17, 2025

    Ontario law on campus anti-racism policies an intrusion on academic freedom, legal observers say

    A number of scholars are raising concerns about new Ontario legislation which requires colleges and universities to bring in policies to counter racism and hate, saying it not only attacks the autonomy of academic institutions but also opens up the province to legal challenge.

  • January 17, 2025

    Sentencing appeal unveils harm-filled trail of fraudulence

    In the movie Catch Me if You Can, Leonardo DiCaprio portrays the notorious con artist Frank Abagale Jr., who poses as a doctor, lawyer and airline pilot before being apprehended by the FBI. The movie makes for good entertainment, but we seldom appreciate the harm that fraudsters can do to their unsuspecting victims.

  • January 17, 2025

    New Provincial Court justice for Newfoundland

    Andrew O. Brown has been appointed to the Provincial Court in Clarenville, Nfld. The announcement was made by the province's Minister of Justice and Public Safety Bernard Davis.

  • January 16, 2025

    Blakes partner roster expands

    Blakes has named Allan Morgan, Rodney Perkins, Brittany Shamess, Christina Sutcliffe, Daniel Szirmak and Annika Wang as new partners.

  • January 16, 2025

    Manitoba to have special prosecutor for hate crimes

    In a bid to combat hate crime in the province, Manitoba’s government is designating a lead Crown prosecutor to “tackle the issue.”

  • January 16, 2025

    Murder appeal raises question: Can judges overstep authority?

    It is trite to say that the judge is the trier of law, and the jury is the trier of fact. Can judges in criminal jury cases overstep their authority by refusing to allow a jury to consider a lesser and included offence as part of the jury’s deliberation? This was the first argument raised by Toronto criminal lawyers Nathan Gorham and Breana Vanderbeek in the appeal of James Scordino’s conviction for first-degree murder. The Ontario Court of Appeal issued its answer to the question on Jan. 13, 2025, in R. v. Scordino, 2025 ONCA 12.

  • January 15, 2025

    Canada prepares for migrant surge from U.S. in response to Trump’s deportation threat

    Ottawa says that it is prepared for a possible surge of migrants and asylum claimants if and when incoming U.S. president Donald Trump implements his mass deportation pledge — but federal officials did not say how many people they anticipate might arrive at the Canada-U.S. border.

  • January 15, 2025

    Alberta launches new ankle bracelet program while Ontario introduces bail dashboard

    Alberta and Ontario have launched new initiatives aimed at ensuring compliance with bail conditions, with both provinces saying the programs will help keep streets safer from high-risk offenders. Starting Jan. 15, offenders and accused who pose a public safety risk in Alberta may be subject to court-ordered electronic ankle bracelet monitoring by Alberta Correctional Services as part of their community supervision conditions.