Law
Jul 15, 2008
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
News
The Supreme Court of Canada has described open courts as a "core value" as central to the justice system as the presumption of innocence. Yet at the trial court level in Ontario, the Ministry of the Attorney General has imposed access restrictions that arguably have made the province's court system the least open in the country. Shannon Kari reports in the June 30, 2008 edition of the Law Times.
The Supreme Court of Canada has described open courts as a "core value" as central to the justice system as the presumption of innocence. Yet at the trial court level in Ontario, the Ministry of the Attorney General has imposed access restrictions that arguably have made the province's court system the least open in the country. Shannon Kari reports in the June 30, 2008 edition of the Law Times.
Jul 15, 2008
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
Commentary
No one disputes that open courts are a hallmark of a democratic society. But media lawyer Alan Shanoff, writing the June 14, 2008 edition of the Law Times, says it's time to stop paying lip service to this principle and to rethink the many roadblocks the legal system throws in the way of openness.
No one disputes that open courts are a hallmark of a democratic society. But media lawyer Alan Shanoff, writing the June 14, 2008 edition of the Law Times, says it's time to stop paying lip service to this principle and to rethink the many roadblocks the legal system throws in the way of openness.
Jun 17, 2008
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
Toronto (June 11, 2008) -- An Ontario judge has released a videotape of a statement convicted murderer Paul Bernado gave to police in 2007 denying involvement in the murder of Elizabeth Bain -- a crime for which Robert Baltovich was wrongly convicted and served nine years in prison. The video was an exhibit at Baltovich's trial and transcripts had previously been released. Justice David McCombs refused to impose restrictions on the use of the video on the Internet, rejecting Crown concerns that wider dissemination would lead to misuse of the images. Read The Globe and Mail reports. Read the court's ruling. View the 32-minute video.
Oct 29, 2007
- Posted by Heather
McCall
CP's Bruce Cheadle describes yet another unsuccessful access to information request, in this case seeking government briefing materials on the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. The latest batch of blacked-out documents arrived the same day that the Globe and Mail detailed statistics showing that the public release of government information is being choked off under the Conservative government.
See also G&M exposes government's heavy-handed editing.
See also G&M exposes government's heavy-handed editing.
Oct 29, 2007
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
News
Reinforcing the protection given to confidential police informers, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the court and Crown have no discretion to disclose any details to the public or media that could lead to their identification. Helen Burnett of the Law Times reports.
Reinforcing the protection given to confidential police informers, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the court and Crown have no discretion to disclose any details to the public or media that could lead to their identification. Helen Burnett of the Law Times reports.
Sep 28, 2007
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
Backgrounder
Conrad Black's fraud trial in Chicago highlighted the differences between the Canadian and American systems of justice. A Canadian journalist who needs to know how a grand jury works or where to find a case file down south can consult the Knight Centre for Specialized Journalism's court coverage website. It's designed to help rookie and experienced journalists alike. Need links to contacts in U.S. state and federal courts? Unsure of the meaning of a legal phrase? There's even advice on how to establish contacts and work the court beat.
Conrad Black's fraud trial in Chicago highlighted the differences between the Canadian and American systems of justice. A Canadian journalist who needs to know how a grand jury works or where to find a case file down south can consult the Knight Centre for Specialized Journalism's court coverage website. It's designed to help rookie and experienced journalists alike. Need links to contacts in U.S. state and federal courts? Unsure of the meaning of a legal phrase? There's even advice on how to establish contacts and work the court beat.
Sep 27, 2007
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
Feature
All CBC reporter Linden MacIntyre wanted was to see search warrants tied to an RCMP investigation into allegations of political corruption. That simple request wound up before the Supreme Court of Canada in 1982, one of a handful of important open-court precedents to come out of Nova Scotia. By Dean Jobb.
All CBC reporter Linden MacIntyre wanted was to see search warrants tied to an RCMP investigation into allegations of political corruption. That simple request wound up before the Supreme Court of Canada in 1982, one of a handful of important open-court precedents to come out of Nova Scotia. By Dean Jobb.
Sep 27, 2007
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
News
Ontario is expanding the scope of cameras in its courtrooms. As of Sept. 5, 2007, some Court of Appeal proceedings will be available live on the Internet and for broadcast by the media under a new pilot project. Robert Benzie reports in the Toronto Star.
Ontario is expanding the scope of cameras in its courtrooms. As of Sept. 5, 2007, some Court of Appeal proceedings will be available live on the Internet and for broadcast by the media under a new pilot project. Robert Benzie reports in the Toronto Star.
May 24, 2007
- Posted by Mary
Doyle
Some court proceedings will appear on the Internet, and fees to access court documents will be reduced, Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant told journalists at an international conference. Bryant was speaking at a May 24 town hall meeting held as part of the Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Toronto.
May 23, 2007
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
Commentary
A routine request for a photo of a dog found in a court file shows how secretive Canada's courts can be, says Toronto Star legal affairs reporter Tracey Tyler. It also raises questions about who will call the shots on a new liaison committee that's supposed to improve access to the Ontario courts.
A routine request for a photo of a dog found in a court file shows how secretive Canada's courts can be, says Toronto Star legal affairs reporter Tracey Tyler. It also raises questions about who will call the shots on a new liaison committee that's supposed to improve access to the Ontario courts.
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