James C Morton
Vote by mail
You have one more week to apply to vote by mail! Applications accepted until 9pm Sept 30. Here's how: http://bit.ly/qZWqfj
Pot growers face more jail than child molesters
This makes sense because why? Marijuana didn't seem to stop Tim Hudak succeeding -- my sense is all Canadians would rank growing pot below raping children in terms of seriousness…
Vengeance or Forgiveness? Catholic Teaching and Capital Punishment
The Busted Halo Show, on satellite radio, tonight discussed capital punishment. Father Dave Dwyer pointed out that while the State had the authority to impose the death penalty, such was…
Ahmadinejad speech
It is interesting to note that he did not deal with the statehood bid:UN delegations walk out of Ahmadinejad speechCanadians 1st to leave chamber as Iranian president slams U.S.The Associated…
Employees may have an interest in pension plan surplus
Sutherland v. Hudson's Bay Company, 2011 ONCA 606, released this morning, considers the entitlement of employees to a pension surplus. In Burke v. Hudson's Bay Co., 2 S.C.R. 273, the Supreme Court held…
An accused is permitted to adjourn the bail hearing indefinitely, until he or she is ready to exercise that right.
R. v. Hudson, 2011 ONSC 5176 is a strong statement for the proposition an accused need neither consent to a detention order nor run a bail hearing in order to…
Davis execution delayed as Georgia waits for Supreme Court ruling
The folly of the death penalty is seen here. This case has been to the Supreme Court, what, twice before. The crime took place a lifetime ago. The cost to…
A surety at a bail hearing may be asked about the offence
While s. 518(1)(b) of the Criminal Code insulates the accused from being cross-examined about the offence, no such protection is afforded to sureties or others. See Ayanah, O.J. No. 5189…
An informal Will
Getting a Will made is not difficult and is not very expensive. Most lawyers will prepare a Will for around $500. Considering that a will disposes of everything you own,…
Serial killer Clifford Olson reportedly dying of cancer
A truly appalling series of brutal crimes -- almost a script for a horror movie. That said, such criminals are rare -- most homicides are within the family. And murder…
Judging credibility on appeal
R. v. B.A., 2011 ONCA 603 is a good example of how an appeal court can, sometimes, reverse a credibility finding. A trial judge, acting properly, must explain why a witness's evidence is…
Disbelieved exculpatory statement of a criminal accused
R. v. Selvanayagam, 2011 ONCA 602 deals with what can be made of a disbelieved exculpatory statement of a criminal accused: The law, briefly stated, is that the trier of…
I received a notice for jury duty! Now what?
One of the most significant civic duties of Canadians is jury duty. As a juror you will be, quite literally, serving as a judge of the Superior Court and deciding…
Pan-Arctic police meet in Iqaluit to talk crime
http://bit.ly/qIoO39 Police chiefs from Canada, the U.S. and Greenland will be meeting in Iqaluit this week for the first ever pan-Arctic meeting of police chiefs to look for solutions to…
Dulce bellum inexpertis – War is sweet to the inexperienced (Erasmus)
Litigation is also an exciting lark ... to those who have never been to Court!