James C Morton
The worst society has to offer
BY BERNIE FARBER, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN JANUARY 7, 2012 It's difficult for those who have never experienced unbridled hatred to feel the pain that congregants of a Gatineau Mosque must…
Diversity bypasses the bench
Toronto Star: James Morton Some years ago I was sitting in a busy criminal courthouse. As I waited for my case to be called I realized something startling —…
Stephen Harper on partisan Senate Appointments
"Despite the fine work of many individual senators, the Upper House remains a dumping ground for the favoured cronies of the prime minister," Stephen Harper's leadership website said on Jan.…
www.poli-tech.ca
As we discuss the critical policy and process issues facing the Party we have to have a good discussion of technology and its importance to the Party. Technology and web-based…
Stephen Harper breaks silence on Edmonton MP facing criminal charges
I have no complaints here. Stephen Harper is waiting to see how the case resolves (the accused is just accused — he may be acquitted) and the MP has left…
Business as usual
Stephen Harper has appointed seven new Senators. The timing of the announcement speaks for itself: after 4 p.m. on a Friday in Ottawa, so late in the day that it's…
Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins elevated to cardinal
This is a significant event and good for all of Canada. The Roman Catholic Church is central in providing medical care in the Third World, especially Africa, and the role…
It is not a question of asking "why would the complainant lie?"
R. v. Horton 1999 BCCA 0150 is an older British Columbia decision just released electronically. It is a very helpful decision in considering "he said, she said" cases especially where…
Conservatives and marijuana
Politics is not logical or consistent but the Conservative position on marijuana doesn't make any sense from a "conservative" standpoint. Of course "conservative" covers a wide assortment of views (just…
The blogs and twitter aren’t always reflective of general trends
Note the following quotation. The truth is the people engaged on-line are atypical — only the truly engaged (who are a small percentage of Party faithful) are on-line all the…
Jurisdictional error in committal for trial
R. v. Gray, 2012 ONCA 7 deals with the often problematic issue of jurisdictional error in committal for trial. The Court holds: After reviewing the evidence and the preliminary inquiry…
I look in the mirror
Edmund Burke, 1729 – 1797 I look in the mirrorAnd what do I see?A strange looking personThat cannot be me. For I am much youngerAnd not nearly so fatAs that…
IF WE DON’T GET THIS RIGHT, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
Professor Ken Davey sent the note below to a few friends in the Riding. It really hit home with me — with his permission I reproduce it here: As a…
Postering generally will not amount to criminal mischief
R. v. Jeffers, 2012 ONCA 1 deals with a very sad case (it is worth a read for the counselling murder charges). That said, the decision is a good source…