The presumption of innocence is not only a long-standing principle that has withstood a thousand years of history and politics; it is also a fundamental right enshrined in the Charter of…

Can money buy justice? Not surprisingly, the answer is often Yes. Despite the important principle that justice should be “blind”, and treat each individual equally, the reality is that two defendants,…

How far can a lawyer go in defending his client? What started out for Joseph Peter Paul Groia as a criminal law case in provincial court, in which he was defending…

Everyone has heard of “He said-she said” cases. But what does that mean? Can I be convicted on just the word of another person? Yes you can. It happens every day…

Anyone can be charged with rape; it only takes a statement by a complainant motivated to report to the police. And because sexual assault is a “zero tolerance” offence, it will…

Can a drunk person consent to sex? It happens all the time. Every night, in bars and nightclubs and pool halls, men and women drink and socialize and “hook up”. Alcohol…

The justice system in Canada is in crisis. It is a crisis that has been building for decades, and for many reasons. Despite the steady drop in crime rates, the growth…

Words matter. Newsflash to the media, politicians and activists: an acquittal is not a failure of justice. Canada’s justice system has checks and balances that do work, considering how overburdened it…

R. v. Anthony-Cook, 2016 SCC 43 – Plea Bargains A judge is not bound by joint submissions made by the Crown and defence. Nonetheless, in order to create more certainty in…

The right against self-incrimination aims to protect against unreliable confessions and the abuse of power by the government. The importance of this right is highlighted by the fact that several different…

Domestic violence has been identified as a major priority by both the federal government (which creates the law) and the Ontario government (which enforces the law). Because of the vulnerability of…

Domestic violence is any violence that occurs within family or intimate relationships. The main characteristic of such violence is that it occurs to people who are often vulnerable, or dependent on…