Relevance in Context: SCC decides R v Schneider
Trial judges play many roles, but one of their main tasks is determining what evidence is admissible. As a rule, all relevant evidence is admissible. But how do trial judges...
Author: Jennifer Laws
A Right to be (Re)tried in a Reasonable Time: SCC Allows Appeal in R v JF
In the Canadian criminal justice system, an accused person has a constitutional right to be tried within a reasonable time. The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has previously determined how...
Understanding the Right to Counsel: SCC Decides R v Lafrance
We’ve all seen a classic interrogation scene in movies or on TV. The police sit an accused person down, start asking questions, and hope he doesn’t “lawyer up.” What we...
No Still Means No: Clarifying the 5-4 Split in R v Kirkpatrick
At the end of July 2022, one message rang loud and clear across the country, straight from the Supreme Court: when it comes to consent, only yes means yes. It...
