It’s as if Ford and his allies who are actively assailing the judiciary have forgotten — or never really understood — centuries of hard-earned lessons that democracy is not about electing a king by another name. Individual rights and freedoms, enforced by an impartial and independent judiciary, are bulwarks against authoritarianism. This separation of powers …
Author archives: Dennis Reeve
NEW ORDERS FROM THE COURT: I wonder if Judges and Justices of the Peace will daily announce their title and sexual identity as well in open court to the public.
Ontario Court of Justice Notice to the Profession and Public Pronouns for Lawyers and Parties At the beginning of any in-person, virtual or hybrid hearings, when lawyers are introducing themselves, their client, a witness or another individual, they should provide the judge or justice of the peace with each person’s name, title (e.g. Mr., Mrs., …
THE MeToo MOVEMENT IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION – This is a well articulated response to the issue. We men really have to step up and be respectful and professional. It’s not really a very big ask.
IF YOU WANT A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT WORKS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO FUND IT PROPERLY – “Funding for the justice sector is set to decrease from $6.1 billion to 5.9 billion in 2024, according to the recently-released Ontario budget. In the next few years, that number is projected to decrease further to about $5.6 billion.”
https://www.cp24.com/news/attempted-murder-is-not-a-priority-victims-of-tossed-out-cases-speak-out-amid-lower-ont-justice-funding-1.6826067
WHEN JUSTICE DAVID H. DOHERTY SPEAKS THE LEGAL PROFESSION LISTENS. When Justice David H. Doherty speaks about the integrity of Judicial appointments, Premier Doug Ford should listen. “It does a disservice to suggest that the qualification for appointment to the judiciary should include some manifestation of allegiance to, or even sympathy with, the agenda of those who are fixed with the responsibility of appointing judges,”
https://www.haltonhillstoday.ca/local-news/retiring-judge-takes-jab-at-doug-fords-like-minded-remark-8446806
A SIMPLE RULE: DON’T VIDEOS OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY because “In 2015, Parliament amended Sect. 162 of the Criminal Code, making it an offence to record or distribute images or video of an intimate act without consent of every person who appears in the video.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/sharing-sexual-images-without-consent-illegal-in-canada-since-2015-recent-case-shows-it-s-still-a-problem-1.7141379
OH NO! While we’re still, years later, cleaning up the messes of Harper’s unconstitutional mandatory minimum sentences (MMS) and the delays that resulted in Judicial stays of serious criminal cases, Poilievre wants to take us down that same unconstitutional road with his rebranded mandatory minimum penalties (MMP).
https://montrealgazette.com/news/politics/the-conversation-pierre-poilievres-proposed-mandatory-minimum-penalties-will-not-reduce-crime
HERE IS THE REAL STORY ABOUT OUT BROKEN BAIL SYSTEM – Do not believe Doug Ford’s fear mongering.
https://www.cp24.com/news/the-number-of-inmates-awaiting-trial-in-canada-s-provincial-jails-has-quadrupled-ccla-1.6784122
OUR BAIL SYSTEM IS BROKEN, BUT NOT IN THE WAY DOUG FORD WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE: 79% of the people held in our Provincial Jails are either possibly innocent or actually innocent.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/report-bail-ontario-1.7125726
Our Criminal Lawyers’ Association letter to Doug Ford regarding our concern for the independence of our Judiciary and it’s selection process.
February 26, 2024 VIA EMAIL: premier@ontario.ca The Honourable Doug Ford, M.P.P. Premier of Ontario Legislative Building, Queen’s Park Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1A1 The Criminal Lawyers’ Association represents more than 1800 criminal lawyers in the province of Ontario. Our membership regularly appears in the Ontario Court of Justice where the bulk of criminal law cases are heard in …