The ReeveLaw Blog

Think twice before you do this: “He caught his ex-girlfriend cheating on him with a co-worker, posted (naked photos of her on Facebook) after getting drunk and high on cocaine, and deleted them 30 minutes later.” It will cost you a criminal record, 90 days in jail, restrictions on internet use and supervision by a probation officer.

The 29-year-old man, whose name hasn’t been published in order to protect the identity of the victim, admitted to posting three nude photos of her on Facebook after their year-long relationship came to a bitter end.

Source: Canada’s First Revenge Porn Convict Gets 90 Days in Jail | VICE News

In the midst of all of the emotion, the agendas and twisted perceptions of the process and purpose of the criminal justice system swirling around this trial the simple fact is that if you lie you will not be believed. This is even more so when you take a solemn oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and then break that oath. “The harsh reality is that once a witness has been shown to be deceptive and manipulative in giving their evidence, that witness can no longer expect the court to consider them to be a trusted source of the truth,” Justice Horkins said. Here is the judgment: http://www.ontariocourts.ca/en/24Mar16.pdf

Verdict acquitting former radio host of sexual assault, choking charges brings to a close chapter in ongoing saga for Ghomeshi that began when CBC fired him in October, 2014

Source: Jian Ghomeshi acquitted; judge says complainants dishonest – The Globe and Mail

Don’t be mislead and don’t be fooled by having a false sense of security. Police and others can follow the electronic trail you are always leaving behind you and they do follow it even if they are not legally authorized to do so. These IMSI catchers are not and never have been authorized for use in Canada but police and other agencies are using them nevertheless.

Canadians are finally getting some answers about how the technology has been used here

Source: Tracking our phones: How StingRay devices are being used by police – The Globe and Mail

Let’s watch and see the issues that the pilot project in the U.K. raises.

The UK Justice minister has just announced a pilot scheme for the introduction of cameras into criminal courts. The project will run for 3 months in eight UK cities. Cameras will film only the judge, and will be confined to sentencing remarks. The pu

Source: TV Cameras in UK courts – Slaw

A growing number of juries in Colorado are acquitting people of driving under the influence of cannabis. Residents just don’t think that being over the legal limit for cannabis is the same as being over the legal limit for alcohol, and they are correct. There is no authoritative data on blood-THC levels and impairment, as there is with alcohol.

This application of logic and defiance of an arbitrary number is driving prosecutors into a hissy fit

Source: Colorado juries keep letting people go for driving on weed, prosecutors and cops furious

“A judge has ordered a manufacturing company in southwestern Ontario to pay 10 months severance to a longtime employee after it fired him for cause upon learning the 66-year-old labourer was facing sexual assault charges involving underage complainants. Criminal charges for so-called “off-duty conduct” are not sufficient for dismissal, said the judge. There must be a justifiable connection to the employer or the nature of employment,”

Source: Off-duty conduct increasingly under scrutiny: lawyers

In a local Newmarket decision Justice Bourque reiterates that strip searches are not an acceptable routine procedure. “I am concerned that police forces put vague concepts of police safety before the human dignity of people they have in detention.” http://www.canlii.org/en/on/oncj/doc/2016/2016oncj133/2016oncj133.html

Cops in Ontario have been employing strip searches tens of thousands of times a year. Last week, one judge ripped apart a police force for forcing a woman to strip for, seemingly, no reason at all.

Source: Judge Reminds Cops That Strip Searches Are Not Routine Procedure | VICE News

If you have ever been arrested and taken to bail court you know what this Justice of the Peace says is true. Since none of us know if we’re ever going to be arrested it would be a good idea to be aware of this situation. The presumption of innocence does not just apply at trial but also in determining if an accused person should be granted bail and upon what terms. We need to fix this.

Source: Julie Lauzon: When bail courts don’t follow the law

Profit driven, a US investment fund is poised to dominate the world market. “Britain will one day inevitably legalise cannabis. Our intention is to build a global company. This industry is worth $300 billion worldwide. There are not many growth industries starting from scratch worth that kind of money and in which no large companies are operating. One day we will have Marley Natural flagship stores around the world. One of them will be in London.” Money rules!

“Britain will one day inevitably legalise cannabis. Our intention is to build a global company. This industry is worth $300 billion worldwide. There are not many growth industries starting from scratch worth that kind of money and in which no large companies are operating. One day we will have Marley Natural flagship stores around the world. One of them will be in London.”

Source: Cannabis should be sold legally in shops, say Lib Dems – Telegraph

When the Prime Minister declares an activity to be legal the prosecution of that activity never serves the public interest. The courts are questioning why prosecutors proceed with these cases. As more and more people with medical exemptions are growing their own marijuana, if the government doesn’t soon seize control of regulating this as a legal industry they will lose the opportunity.

Source: Judges question simple marijuana possession cases as legality remains in limbo | National Post