Canada’s second-largest coffee retailer is getting into the weed business. Its shares soared 33 percent.
ELIMINATING PRELIMINARY INQUIRIES – Judges, defence lawyers and Crowns all know that preliminary inquiries already are only held in some serious cases and that they frequently result in the resolution of the case or a reduction of trial time and issues. Eliminating them is likely to result in an increased number of wrongful convictions.
Not long ago, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould seemed hesitant to embrace the idea of eliminating preliminary inquiries as a way to reduce court backlogs. Now, things have changed.
Source: Evidence behind Ottawa’s choice to cut preliminary inquiries remains elusive | CBC News
LEGAL AID UNDERFUNDING – is reaching a crisis point in England. “There is no payment at all for disclosure or the vast quantities of evidence likely to be served on us in cases going forward.” Barristers in England and Wales threaten walkout over legal aid payment changes
The 4,000 Criminal Bar Association members criticise lack of payment for new responsibilities on disclosure of evidence
Source: Barristers in England and Wales threaten walkout over legal aid payment changes
LEGAL AID UNDERFUNDING – is chronic and ubiquitous. Legal aid less than minimum wage, prominent lawyer complains | Vancouver Sun
One of the country’s top criminal lawyers, Marilyn Sandford, sat in her downtown Vancouver office aerie, lamenting the dire state of the courts and threadbare legal aid.
Source: Ian Mulgrew: Legal aid less than minimum wage, prominent lawyer complains | Vancouver Sun
JURY DUTY – Long tough trials can be brutal sometimes, but then, not just to jurors but to everyone involved. “‘I pulled away from my wife, my family,’ Jennifer Pan murder trial juror recalls”
A report on jury reform is expected to be released in April, outlining the types of support needed for jurors.
Source: ‘I pulled away from my wife, my family,’ Jennifer Pan murder trial juror recalls
Maine State Trooper Saves Driver From Overdose on Interstate – This is uplifting. Good job, guys.
Douglas Cropper, a Maine state trooper, was hailed a hero after dramatic footage showed him pulling a driver over only to discover that he was overdosing on heroin. Cropper was on Interstate 295 in Portland at 6:15 a.m. when he spotted a Volkswagen Jetta traveling 15 mph over the speed limit. When he pulled the […]
Source: Maine State Trooper Saves Driver From Overdose on Interstate
WILL I BE ABLE TO TAKE WEED ACROSS THE BORDER WHEN IT’S LEGAL IN CANADA? – Duh. NO. Nothing has changed. “A Canadian whose clothes or car smells of pot will be hauled over for secondary questioning by American border officials.” Just like it is now.
“It becomes an issue if you make it one, but there’s no need to make it one because the border rules have not changed.”
Source: Canadian legal pot “should not be an issue” at U.S. border, Goodale says
PASSPORTONLINE.CA – If you need to renew your passport and think you can do it online, make sure you know that Passport Online is NOT a government agency.
A former employee of Passport Online and Pardons and Waivers of Canada tells CBC News the companies train workers to get as much money as possible from Canadians who could get the same services from the government for free.
Source: Canadians continue to be fooled by website that mimics government agency | CBC News
DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA? NOT REALLY! – Many criminal offences will remain. Learn what you can and cannot do and be careful out there! “An adult who possesses more than 30 grams of marijuana in public is a criminal. A youth who possesses more than five grams of marijuana is a criminal. An 18-year-old who passes a joint to his 17-year-old friend is a criminal. An adult who grows five marijuana plants is a criminal. And anyone who possesses non-government-approved marijuana is a criminal.”
Last week, the Liberal government’s half-hearted cannabis legislation passed second reading in the Senate.
Source: Pot bill’s sober second thought | Canadian Lawyer Mag
