Access to Justice
-
May 07, 2025
Successful appeal includes ‘air of reality’ defence
Two Moose Jaw, Sask., men had a violent encounter. Vincent William Picken was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally stabbing Shaun Holmes in 2020. Picken claimed he acted in self-defence after Holmes allegedly assaulted him and set his dog on him.
-
May 07, 2025
A client’s capacity to instruct counsel
Lawyers have an obligation to ensure that their clients have capacity to give them instructions. But what do you do if you suspect that your client may have lost that capacity?
-
May 06, 2025
Ontario Court of Appeal decertifies class action against BMW, citing no viable plaintiff
The Ontario Court of Appeal has set aside the certification of a proposed class action against BMW over alleged defects in the engines of certain BMW vehicles with model years from 2012 to 2015, finding that the proposed representative plaintiffs did not have a viable claim.
-
May 06, 2025
The true meaning of remorse
There is a word used every day in the criminal courtroom that one rarely hears in ordinary conversation: remorse.
-
May 06, 2025
Sex assault sentencing decision a model for joint submissions, fairness
Constantin Vlachias tried very hard to put his life back together. But in September 2021, his past caught up with him.
-
May 05, 2025
Federation of Ontario Law Associations urging pause to current civil rules reform process
The organization representing Ontario’s county and district law associations is calling on Attorney General Doug Downey to hit the pause button on efforts to overhaul the province’s civil rules.
-
May 05, 2025
Nunavut court approves $8M class-action settlement in case of sex abuse by teacher
The Nunavut Court of Justice has approved a class-action settlement of $8 million on behalf of individuals who were subjected to sexual abuse by a teacher while attending Nunavut schools.
-
May 05, 2025
Jerilee Ryle appointed to Manitoba’s provincial court
The Government of Manitoba has announced that Jerilee Ryle has been appointed to the provincial court in Winnipeg.
-
May 05, 2025
Minister of justice’s role, the rule of law and efficiency
When the minister of justice for Canada is sworn in as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet, will the oath of office again include the obligation to ensure that public administration is consistent with the law? This reflects the statutory obligation under s. 4(a) of the Department of Justice Act. However, there is some confusion about what that duty entails and how it should be discharged by the minister and the Justice Department.
-
May 02, 2025
Yukon passes inclusive families legislation
Yukon has passed “landmark” legislation that reworks laws around the naming of children and parentage recognition — and replaces “gendered” terms such as mother and father with other titles.