KING’S COUNSEL IS BACK!! – Rank political patronage without any merit whatsoever for all the wrong reasons. ” It was abolished by Premier David Peterson who listed as reasons: 1) the designation was originally meant to recognise excellence in the courtroom, but the practice in Ontario was that it could be given to any lawyer, regardless of courtroom experience; 2) the use of the designation misled the public, because it was more based on who one knows than what one knows; 3) it was unfair to lawyers who for whatever reason have not been designated, leading to questions about their standing in the profession; 4) no other profession received government awards of this type; and 5) the designation had been used in Ontario mainly as a form of political patronage.

Doug Ford reinstates the title King’s Counsel for Ontario lawyers

LEGAL AID IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL FOR LAWYERS

“While a prosecuting lawyer hired by the Crown starts at a salary well north of $100,000 and gets raises that eventually take them over $200,000, a private practice defence lawyer taking on Legal Aid cases may struggle to make $60,000. Out of that, they have to pay annual Law Society memberships and legal insurance, along with the possibility of setting up an office, covering their own pension and health insurance along with paying for advertising, a receptionist, a bookkeeper and equipment.”

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/as-ontarios-legal-aid-system-creaks-low-income-citizens-suffer

SHOULD PAUL BERNARDO “ROT IN A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON”? – Here is some information on the issue and the fundamental question: “Rather than focusing on whether one man is being punished harshly enough, there must be necessary conversations about the purpose of prisons, whether they’re meant to be solely punitive or serve any rehabilitative functions, and what justice means to Canadians. Focusing on one infamous serial killer does not make Canadians safer, nor does using an exceptional case to change correctional policy.”

https://theconversation.com/politicians-shouldnt-determine-where-paul-bernardo-is-imprisoned-regardless-of-his-crimes-208058

HAVE YOU NOTICED that these look like 2 different people, neither of whom matches the description? “The 33-year-old is described as being 5-6 and around 150 pounds with a medium build. He has light brown, shoulder-length hair that may be tied back in a ponytail and green eyes with a scar on his right cheek and tattoos on his chest and right forearm.”

https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/triple-murder-suspect-escapes-sudbury-jail-7161251

NOW DISGRACED EX-OFFICER REDMOND was on extended sick leave with pay from 2011 to 2014 before being suspended indefinitely with pay in 2015 when he was criminally charged with obstruction of justice, three counts of trafficking marijuana, one count of forgery, and one count of breach of trust. In 2021 he was charged and eventually found guilty, of sexual assault for raping an unconscious woman in 2017 and recording it on his phone. Later he was found guilty of nine charges — five counts of assault, three counts of assault causing bodily harm and one count of assault with a weapon. He was paid as a police officer every year, a salary of $121,047.96 in 2021, while he was committing criminal offences until finally dismissed in November, 2022. THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

https://nationalpost.com/feature/how-a-bad-cop-stayed-on-the-payroll-for-years-committing-serious-crimes

ANOTHER SHAMEFUL MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE – The opening line in R. v. Doyle 2023 ONCA 427:

‘This is another in the long list of wrongful convictions brought about in part by the unreliable expert evidence of disgraced pathologist Dr. Charles Smith. Cases in this court setting aside such convictions include R. v. Mullins-Johnson; R. v. Sherrett-Robinson; R. v. Kumar; R. v. Brant; R. v. Shepherd; and R. v. Blackett.’ [case citations and footnote omitted]

The Innocence Canada website has more details about these miscarriages of justice. (Borrowed from Daniel Brodsky)