CRIMES, COURTS, AND COMMENTARY
Interviews, current events, recommendations, and more --
all geared to the criminal law student community.
all geared to the criminal law student community.
Yuliya Mykhaylychenko (CLSA 2L Executive)
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Lauren Teixeira (CLSA 2L Executive) During this panel put on jointly by the Criminal Law Students’ Association (“CLSA”) and the Business Law Society (“BLS”), four panelists spoke about their experience regulating, prosecuting and defending financial crimes. Their answers were thorough, interesting and provided valuable insight into their practices.
Nik Khakhar (2L)
11/15/2021 0 Comments Event Recap: Defence and Crown PanelChristine Wang (CLSA 1L Executive)
10/28/2021 0 Comments Jury Selection New and Confused: SCC Upholds Repeal of Peremptory Challenges, Fractures on What Comes NextNicholas Buhite (3L and CLSA Blog Editor) W. S. Gilbert’s illustration for “Now, Jurymen, hear my advice” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury (d. 1911), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. The content below is an unabridged version of an article which was published in Ultra Vires on October 10th, 2021 abridged and with citations omitted. We hope students intending to specialize in criminal law will find this more fulsome version both helpful and interesting, but we recognize it is not for everyone. For those looking for a briefer overview of the issues in this case without delving too deeply into its history, its new procedures and tests, or its practical difficulties, we thoroughly recommend you read the abridged version available on page #10 of Ultra Vires' October 2021 Edition or directly through the following link. IntroductionOn October 7th, 2020, the Supreme Court heard oral submissions in the case of R v Chouhan, 2021 SCC 26. The case turned on the constitutionality of parliament’s abolition of peremptory challenges in jury selection and the retroactive application of that abolition to trials where the defence has already elected to a trial by jury. The court issued an oral judgement, upholding abolition on the same day submissions were heard. Eight and a half months later, the court issued a “fractured”[1] set of reasons disclosing deep divisions regarding the implications of this change.
Anna Zhang (3L and CLSA Blog Editor) For students wanting to work in criminal law, the path may seem ambiguous. Opportunities for 1L and 2L criminal law jobs are limited within the formal LSO process and students must often take summer positions that are not directly related to defence or Crown work.
By Anna Zhang and Teodora Pasca On top of a pandemic and an already-hectic second semester, March marked the end of yet another summer job recruit season. While some students were preparing to dazzle firms on Bay Street with their charming personalities and impressive extracurriculars, the preparation for interviews with Crown offices and criminal defence firms looked a bit different.
The CLSA spoke with four students at U of T Law about their experiences navigating the criminal law recruit. Why criminal law? By Ainslie Pierrynowski
Likewise, since the time awaiting trial occupies a larger proportion of a young person’s life than that of an adult, the psychological impact of a delay can be much more significant for a young accused person. TJM presented an opportunity to mitigate these issues by clarifying how a young person may seek release on bail.
3/19/2021 Event Recap: Wrongful Convictions PanelBy Caterina Cavallo People want to have confidence in the criminal justice system. Both the public and legal professionals want to believe that this system — which holds immense power and influence over our lives — is effectively prosecuting crimes while ensuring due process for accused persons. While in some cases the justice system achieves that goal, Canada’s criminal justice system is by no means immune to error. Whether or not we are willing to accept it, wrongful convictions are a reality in Canada. On March 9, 2021, the Criminal Law Students’ Association hosted a panel discussion on the topic of wrongful convictions. We had the pleasure of speaking with the following panelists: Stephen Bindman, Senior Advisor, Department of Justice Canada The Honourable Justice Renee Pomerance, Ontario Superior Court of Justice Benita Wassenaar, Crown Law Office – Criminal Bhavan Sodhi, Legal Director, Innocence Canada By Teodora Pasca
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Want to contribute? Pitch an idea to CLSA Blog Editors Ben Elhav & Nik Khakhar at [email protected] & [email protected].
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