https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/report-bail-ontario-1.7125726
Author archives: Dennis Reeve
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 …
Doug Ford’s politicization of the judicial system. We had an excellent system of judicial appointments based on merit until Ford decided that he’s going to appoint his friends and political cronies, just like he’s already done with Justices of the Peace. Are judicial positions now open for bidding?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-judge-selection-1.7123577
IF YOU READ MY POSTS YOU KNOW I’M NO FAN OF DOUG FORD. – Here is one reason why.
https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion/ford-and-downey-have-skewed-ontarios-justice-system-to-suit-their-partisan-purposes/383378
THAT’S A LOT OF CANADIANS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS – Having a criminal record should not be an automatic barrier to employment. Pardons (or record suspensions) should be readily available to those who have earned it.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/criminal-records-canada-hiring-fair-chance-1.7099489
WHEN JUDGES CRITICIZE POLICE (#2) – Justice Tetley severely criticizes police for a lack of investigation in a sexual assault case. – “This judgment serves as a cautionary example as to the fact an injustice can occur when appropriate and available investigative steps are not pursued and a criminal prosecution instituted on what is now concluded to be an uncorroborated complaint of criminal misconduct of dubious reliability.”
https://gaggle.email/attachments/ag1zfmdhZ2dsZS1tYWlscigLEgRMaXN0GICAwJXj2KcJDAsSCkF0dGFjaG1lbnQYgIDQtf2cnQsM/R%20v.%20JANSEN%20Ashley%20-%20Written%20Reasons%20for%20Judgment%20(VF)%20-%2021Dec2023.pdf
WHEN JUDGES CRITICIZE POLICE CONDUCT (#1) – “It is difficult to avoid a suspicion and conclusion that the officer’s groundless targeting of the defendant for investigation was racially infected. There is no other valid explanation for his actions.”
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/gta-cop-had-absolutely-no-grounds-for-racially-infected-confrontation-judge-rules-tossing-gun-charges/article_94016ea6-bbb8-11ee-8dd6-af2fdd431dab.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a01&utm_source=ts_sa&utm_medium=email&utm_email=0B41BB051FF7EA38DB4BDD5E33BA3AB2&utm_campaign=police_208046
HOW IS OUR BAIL SYSTEM BROKEN? – With 82 percent of all Ontario prison inmates are being held without bail, the system seems to be cooking along just fine. “We have more people in our provincial jails who are supposed to be considered legally innocent than who have been convicted or found guilty and sentenced to be there,”
https://www.cp24.com/news/the-vast-majority-of-people-in-ontario-jails-last-year-were-awaiting-a-trial-data-shows-1.6748052
A WISE MOVE – “Justice Michael Wendl of the Ontario Court of Justice walked back what is being called an unprecedented, heavy-handed and illegal contempt of court citation against a local lawyer on Tuesday.” I don’t believe this will or should alleviate a complaint to the Canadian Judicial Council for threatening a lawyer.
https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/contempt-citation-dropped-against-hamilton-lawyer/article_bdc295d4-97a4-50e4-a269-b46e14b9ffb8.html
JUDICIAL ARROGANCE OUT OF CONTROL – JUDGES WHO ATTACK LAWYERS – I expect that a complaint has been filed with the Ontario Judicial Council.
https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion/judges-should-not-cite-lawyers-for-criminal-contempt-on-a-whim/382986