Category / Law and ethics

CommentaryA Saskatchewan judge has ignored a reporter’s challenge to a publication ban imposed in a high-profile criminal case. In an October 2007 column, managing editor Vern Faulkner of the Prince Albert Daily Herald…

NewsReinforcing 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…

CommentaryThe courts are coming to grips with chat on the Internet, says BBC News Online columnist Bill Thompson. People who post anonymous comments on websites be warned — you can be outed…

NewsThe Guardian newspaper calls it a “landmark” ruling in defence of investigative reporting. Britain’s court of appeal has used the defence of “responsible journalism” to dismiss a libel action against the publisher of…

FeatureTwo countries, two alleged terrorist cells, two vastly different approaches to the public’s right to know. Why is it Americans get to know so much more than Canadians about important court cases?…

BackgrounderConrad 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…

FeatureAll 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…

When journalism and national security collideToronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School hosted a panel discussion on March 21, 2007, exploring media coverage of Mahar Arar story. How should journalists have handled anonymous leaks…

NewsOntario 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…

NewsA judge has quashed a subpoena that would have forced the author of a book about the Robert Baltovich murder case to testify and provide materials for the man’s upcoming trial, calling it…