The Supreme Court of Canada has recently announced it will deliver judgment in the application for leave to appeal in Boulter v. Nova Scotia Power Incorporated, 2009 NSCA 17. In anticipation of such judgment, it is worthwhile to re-examine the issues at stake in the decision. While much has been written on the mechanics of [...]

The avarice of lawyers seems to be a widely-shared belief. Not in vain has the so-called legal profession received too many critiques around the world, being as they are often the most radical adversaries of the lower classes. I still remember a cartoon I once saw which said: “Little money… little law,” evidently suggesting (and [...]

On Friday the Supreme Court of Canada released judgments in four eagerly awaited criminal Charter cases: R. v. Grant, 2009 SCC 32; R. v. Harrison, 2009 SCC 34; R. v. Shepherd, 2009 SCC 35; and R. v. Suberu, 2009 SCC 33. Although much of the media coverage has focused on the results, ultimately the Court [...]

(Part 1 of 3) Introduction The Supreme Court of Canada is in the midst of a little spring cleaning in the law of defamation. Cusson v Quan was a case concerning an Ontario provincial police officer who on his own initiative travelled to New York City following the events of September 11, 2001, to assist [...]

On March 17, 2009, the Supreme Court of Argentina ruled that the “Partido Nuevo Triunfo” cannot be recognized as a political party. The issue had been heard in the lower court, the “Cámara Nacional Electoral” – which rules on issues regarding political parties and elections – that “Partido Nuevo Triunfo” had tried to get recognition [...]

In recent years, same sex marriage has become one of the hottest legal and political topics worldwide. Latin America is no exception to this rule. Recently, in September 2007, the National Civil Court of Appeals, (“Cámara Nacional de Apelaciones en lo Civil”), rejected an injunction brought by a couple of two women that wanted to [...]

The relationship between church and state is attracting increased attention in Denmark and the relationship between the Danish Protestant State Church and other religious group in Denmark is often intensely debated. The Protestant State Church comprises 82 percent of the Danes whereas e.g. the Catholic faith is a minority religion – comprising some ½ percent [...]

The Supreme Court of Israel is a unique judicial body. It is the highest court in Israel – the last resort for appeals in a three-tiered judicial system. However, sitting as a High Court of Justice it is also the court of first and last instance in petitions for judicial review of administrative action. And [...]

INTRODUCTION The Spanish Constitutional Court is becoming one of the most popular institutions in the country. By “popular” I do not mean “generally well-liked”, but “frequently used” or mentioned in conversations and in the media, that is, in the middle of the political debate. On the other hand, as I mentioned in previous contributions, (here [...]

The Chilean Constitutional Court held, in a 5-4 decision, that the emergency contraceptive pill (the so-called “morning after pill”) was contrary to the right to life recognized in the Chilean Constitution. Some insight into the political backdrop of this case will assist in understanding the controversy that the Court faced and decided. By early 2006, [...]