Law and justice

In this Aug. 3, 2007, file photo, magic mushrooms are seen in a grow room at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, central Netherlands. The Supreme Court of Canada has restored the acquittal of a Calgary man who attacked a woman while he was high on magic mushrooms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Peter Dejong

UPDATED: Law barring use of extreme intoxication as criminal defence ruled unconstitutional

Supreme Court restores man’s acquittal for magic mushroom-fuelled attack

In this Aug. 3, 2007, file photo, magic mushrooms are seen in a grow room at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, central Netherlands. The Supreme Court of Canada has restored the acquittal of a Calgary man who attacked a woman while he was high on magic mushrooms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Peter Dejong
Alberta’s former health minister, Tyler Shandro, answers questions at a news conference in Calgary, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol

‘New chapter’: Alberta prosecutors get more pay, talks to improve justice system

Province approves pay adjustments for prosecutors after national review showed salaries lower

Alberta’s former health minister, Tyler Shandro, answers questions at a news conference in Calgary, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol
Students at high schools across B.C. have been organizing protests about the culture of consent (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

‘If you’re intoxicated, you cannot consent,’ reminds B.C. society after sex assault trial

In light of recent events the Elizabeth Fry Society informs on legality of sexual assault

Students at high schools across B.C. have been organizing protests about the culture of consent (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Police tape is shown in Toronto Tuesday, May 2, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Alberta student in hospital, another teen arrested after stabbing in school library

Victim stable after surgery following attack at Pigeon Lake Regional School in Falun, near Edmonton

Police tape is shown in Toronto Tuesday, May 2, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
Marvin Rotrand, National Director of the League for Human Rights, B’nai Brith Canada, speaks about the increase in antisemitic incidents in Canada during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, April 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada sees record rise in antisemitism in 2021, surge in violence toward Jews

Record levels of antisemitism were recorded in Canada last year, with sharp…

Marvin Rotrand, National Director of the League for Human Rights, B’nai Brith Canada, speaks about the increase in antisemitic incidents in Canada during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, April 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Ki Yun Jo, the victim of a gas-and-dash robbery, is shown in an Alberta RCMP handout photo. (RCMP handout)

Man guilty in gas-and-dash death of Alberta gas station owner out on day parole

Jo was killed when Sydlowski sped off in a stolen cube van without paying for $198 of fuel

Ki Yun Jo, the victim of a gas-and-dash robbery, is shown in an Alberta RCMP handout photo. (RCMP handout)
Maple syrup cans are seen at a sugar shack on February 10, 2017 in Oka, Quebec. Canada’s highest court says one of the men behind the infamous 2012 maple syrup heist in Quebec will have to pay a $9.1-million dollar fine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Supreme Court restores $9.1-million fine for Quebec maple syrup thief

Court says Quebec’s Court of Appeal was wrong to reduce fine to $1 million in 2012 theft

Maple syrup cans are seen at a sugar shack on February 10, 2017 in Oka, Quebec. Canada’s highest court says one of the men behind the infamous 2012 maple syrup heist in Quebec will have to pay a $9.1-million dollar fine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
The Parole Board of Canada has granted Tammy Goforth supervised visits in the community for personal development purposes. Image courtesy Creative Outlet

Saskatchewan woman who starved girl to death granted supervised community visits

Tammy Goforth can participate in Indigenous cultural activities and visit a fast food drive-thru

The Parole Board of Canada has granted Tammy Goforth supervised visits in the community for personal development purposes. Image courtesy Creative Outlet
Vancouver Canucks’ Jake Virtanen (18) and Calgary Flames’ Josh Leivo, front right, vie for the puck as goalie Jacob Markstrom, back left, of Sweden, watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, February 13, 2021. A trial date has been set for a former Vancouver Canucks forward charged with sexual assault.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trial date set for former Vancouver Canuck Jake Virtanen charged with sexual assault

Case is set to be heard by a judge and jury in B.C. Supreme Court starting on July 18

Vancouver Canucks’ Jake Virtanen (18) and Calgary Flames’ Josh Leivo, front right, vie for the puck as goalie Jacob Markstrom, back left, of Sweden, watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, February 13, 2021. A trial date has been set for a former Vancouver Canucks forward charged with sexual assault.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance sits in the front row during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Former defence chief Vance sentenced to 80 hours community service after guilty plea

Ex-chief of defence staff Jonathan Vance pleads guilty to obstruction of justice

Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance sits in the front row during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday, July 3, 2020. New provincial family court rules in British Columbia meant to resolve legal matters without going to court have been called “effective” by the province, but some lawyers and advocates say they don’t adequately address the needs of victims of intimate partner violence. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

B.C. family court mediation not adequate for domestic violence victims: advocates

Groups caution mediation process risks repeating power imbalances

British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday, July 3, 2020. New provincial family court rules in British Columbia meant to resolve legal matters without going to court have been called “effective” by the province, but some lawyers and advocates say they don’t adequately address the needs of victims of intimate partner violence. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
British Columbia’s provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. The provincial government is expanding legal aid in British Columbia as part of its 2022 budget.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

B.C. allocates more than $8 million to boost legal-aid services

Funding follows recent analysis of the province’s legal-aid system

British Columbia’s provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. The provincial government is expanding legal aid in British Columbia as part of its 2022 budget.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Nuchatlaht First Nation elder and councillor Archie Little, centre, and Tyee Ha’with (Chief) Jordan Michael, far left, stand with supporters outside B.C. Supreme Court before the start of an Indigenous land title case, in Vancouver, on Monday, March 21, 2022. The lawsuit brought by the First Nation seeks to reclaim part of its territory on Nootka Island, off the west coast of Vancouver Island. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. First Nation’s land rights claim is about reconciliation, lawyer tells court

Lawsuit says government effectively dispossessed Nuchatlaht nation of territory on Vancouver Island

Nuchatlaht First Nation elder and councillor Archie Little, centre, and Tyee Ha’with (Chief) Jordan Michael, far left, stand with supporters outside B.C. Supreme Court before the start of an Indigenous land title case, in Vancouver, on Monday, March 21, 2022. The lawsuit brought by the First Nation seeks to reclaim part of its territory on Nootka Island, off the west coast of Vancouver Island. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. Supreme Court is shown in Vancouver, on Jan. 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Supreme Court to hear lawsuit over First Nation’s land rights

Suit names federal, provincial governments, logging firm Western Forest Products as a defendant

The B.C. Supreme Court is shown in Vancouver, on Jan. 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Currently, the only available remedy when a court case is deemed to have taken too long is a stay of proceedings. (Image courtesy Creative Outlet)

Courts will have to consider reasonableness of delays during COVID-19, experts say

Backlog created by the pandemic is causing officials to rethink what constitutes reasonable delays

Currently, the only available remedy when a court case is deemed to have taken too long is a stay of proceedings. (Image courtesy Creative Outlet)
Actor Jussie Smollett speaks to Judge James Linn after his sentence is read at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago. Smollett maintained his innocence during his sentencing hearing Thursday after a judge sentenced the former “Empire” actor to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail in fake attack

Sentence ends 3 years of legal drama following claim of a racist and homophobic attack

Actor Jussie Smollett speaks to Judge James Linn after his sentence is read at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago. Smollett maintained his innocence during his sentencing hearing Thursday after a judge sentenced the former “Empire” actor to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)
People stand on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, Feb.11, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

US Supreme Court won’t review decision that freed Bill Cosby

The high court declined to review a June Pennsylvania decision that released Cosby from prison

People stand on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, Feb.11, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2021 file photo, a wooden Puerto Rican flag is displayed on the dock of the Condado lagoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)

Arrest of longtime B.C. fugitive stuns Puerto Rico

Conor Vincent D’Monte’s arrest in connection to B.C gangster activity ‘like a Netflix story’

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2021 file photo, a wooden Puerto Rican flag is displayed on the dock of the Condado lagoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)
Allan Schoenborn is shown in this sketch attending a British Columbia Review Board in Coquitlam, B.C. on Thursday March 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Felicity Don

B.C. Review Board considers hospital discretion over Schoenborn community leave

Schoenborn found not criminally responsible in the 2008 deaths of his three children

Allan Schoenborn is shown in this sketch attending a British Columbia Review Board in Coquitlam, B.C. on Thursday March 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Felicity Don
Craig James, former clerk of the B.C. legislative assembly, arrives back at B.C. Supreme Court after a break from his trial, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. A special prosecutor says British Columbia’s former clerk of the legislative assembly used public funds to enrich himself in “glaring and egregious” ways during closing arguments. James’s defence is expected to present its case Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Defence says no evidence of corruption in B.C. Legislature clerk fraud trial

Craig James pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud over $5,000 and one count of breach of trust

Craig James, former clerk of the B.C. legislative assembly, arrives back at B.C. Supreme Court after a break from his trial, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. A special prosecutor says British Columbia’s former clerk of the legislative assembly used public funds to enrich himself in “glaring and egregious” ways during closing arguments. James’s defence is expected to present its case Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck