Adam Rodgers2022-12-29T14:42:24+00:00

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Adam Rodgers is a ground breaking inquiry, litigation and criminal defense lawyer as well as a leading business and political advisor.

Latest Videos

NS Fall Sitting, Cameron Ortis Trial, Spousal Voyeurism, MP's Want New RCMP, Dr. Fashoranti Appeal

Adam Rodgers - Nova Scotia Lawyer 167 views November 12, 2023 7:52 pm

First, a look at the big political story of the week - the government announcing a carve out of the new carbon tax for those heating with oil. This announcement has been criticized from all sides, and may be the biggest political blunder of this government. Notably, it appears to have been spearheaded by the NS MP's, lead by Atlantic Caucus Chair, Kody Blois, who briefly practiced law before being elected.
Other national stories I discuss include the recommendation that responsibility for correctional services for Indigenous offenders be devolved to those communities, as overrepresentation of Indigenous offenders in federal prisons has climbed again in the last ten years from 25% to 32%. I also review the Foreign Interference Inquiry, which is going to look into interference into the 2019 and 2021 elections.
In Nova Scotia legal news, William Sandeson has been denied bail by our Court of Appeal, new Judge Bronwyn Duffy was critical of police for not ensuring there was strong identification evidence in an prowling/arson trial, and Judge Del Atwood assisted a self represented accused on a resisting arrest charge.
Finally, I review the tragic death of Hollie Boland this week in Cole Harbour, and the questions it raises about the bail system in Nova Scotia. The questions are fair, though I am concerned with some of the comments coming from the President of the Crown Prosecutors Association of NS about the incident, and discuss why.

First, a look at the big political story of the week - the government announcing a carve out of the new carbon tax for those heating with oil. This announcement has been criticized from all sides, and may be the biggest political blunder of this government. Notably, it appears to have been spearheaded by the NS MP's, lead by Atlantic Caucus Chair, Kody Blois, who briefly practiced law before being elected.
Other national stories I discuss include the recommendation that responsibility for correctional services for Indigenous offenders be devolved to those communities, as overrepresentation of Indigenous offenders in federal prisons has climbed again in the last ten years from 25% to 32%. I also review the Foreign Interference Inquiry, which is going to look into interference into the 2019 and 2021 elections.
In Nova Scotia legal news, William Sandeson has been denied bail by our Court of Appeal, new Judge Bronwyn Duffy was critical of police for not ensuring there was strong identification evidence in an prowling/arson trial, and Judge Del Atwood assisted a self represented accused on a resisting arrest charge.
Finally, I review the tragic death of Hollie Boland this week in Cole Harbour, and the questions it raises about the bail system in Nova Scotia. The questions are fair, though I am concerned with some of the comments coming from the President of the Crown Prosecutors Association of NS about the incident, and discuss why.

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YouTube Video VVVjMGxmdnFpNHMzWk9wNmY1QzQtWkVRLlFLQmp0ZDJYRTIw

Carbon Tax Blunder, Indigenous Jails, Election Inquiry, ID'ing Suspects, NS Bail System Under Fire

Adam Rodgers - Nova Scotia Lawyer 279 views November 3, 2023 9:39 pm

This week in NS and Canadian law, there were reviews announced, reports released, new judges named, and a progress monitoring committee meeting. 
The two new NS Provincial Court judges are Alonzo Wright and Mark Heerema. Judge Wright was most recently the Director of the Serious Incident Response Team, which investigates potential misbehaviour among police officers in NS. He was new to that position, and now SIRT is in the hands of an interim Director. Judge Heerema was a Provincial Prosecutor, who had recently been defending the government's secretive approach to releasing information on the NS mass shooting.
The Mass Casualty Commission Progress Monitoring Committee met this week, and released very little information afterwards. It has now been six months since the release of the MCC final report, and few (if any) of the recommendations have been implemented.
One recommendation had been to conduct a review of policing in NS. The government announced this week that there would be a review, with the report expected in about a year and a half from now, just before the next election. The same timing is applicable to the other review announced this week, that of the Freedom of Information system in NS.
There was news out of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, where the fire chief, Michael Seth, resigned. It was then revealed that Chief Seth had made a harrassment complaint against four councilors regarding comments made about changes to celebrations planned for July 1st. A report from an employment lawyer found that harassment had taken place. I take a critical view of that report.
Finally, the Saskatchewan Supreme Court has granted an injunction against the government implementing an education policy aimed at ensuring parental consent before any student under age 16 can use their choice of pronouns or names in school. Premier Moe has indicated the government will use the notwithstanding clause of the Charter to ensure the policy is followed. I examine the decision, and predict how the issue will play out in courts and legislatures in the months to come.

This week in NS and Canadian law, there were reviews announced, reports released, new judges named, and a progress monitoring committee meeting.
The two new NS Provincial Court judges are Alonzo Wright and Mark Heerema. Judge Wright was most recently the Director of the Serious Incident Response Team, which investigates potential misbehaviour among police officers in NS. He was new to that position, and now SIRT is in the hands of an interim Director. Judge Heerema was a Provincial Prosecutor, who had recently been defending the government's secretive approach to releasing information on the NS mass shooting.
The Mass Casualty Commission Progress Monitoring Committee met this week, and released very little information afterwards. It has now been six months since the release of the MCC final report, and few (if any) of the recommendations have been implemented.
One recommendation had been to conduct a review of policing in NS. The government announced this week that there would be a review, with the report expected in about a year and a half from now, just before the next election. The same timing is applicable to the other review announced this week, that of the Freedom of Information system in NS.
There was news out of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, where the fire chief, Michael Seth, resigned. It was then revealed that Chief Seth had made a harrassment complaint against four councilors regarding comments made about changes to celebrations planned for July 1st. A report from an employment lawyer found that harassment had taken place. I take a critical view of that report.
Finally, the Saskatchewan Supreme Court has granted an injunction against the government implementing an education policy aimed at ensuring parental consent before any student under age 16 can use their choice of pronouns or names in school. Premier Moe has indicated the government will use the notwithstanding clause of the Charter to ensure the policy is followed. I examine the decision, and predict how the issue will play out in courts and legislatures in the months to come.

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YouTube Video VVVjMGxmdnFpNHMzWk9wNmY1QzQtWkVRLnhsalRzczhXeTBr

NS Policing + FOI Reviews, CBRM Fire Chief Complaint, Injunction on Sask. Parental Consent Policy

Adam Rodgers - Nova Scotia Lawyer 167 views October 1, 2023 6:41 pm

Latest Blogs

Insider Legal Analysis of the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission Public Inquiry

With my work representing the Personal Representative to the late Cpl. Lionel Desmond in the Desmond Fatality Inquiry coming to an end, I have an announcement on my next project. The Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission, which will examine the tragic events of April 18-19, 2020 in Portapique and other locations throughout Central Nova Scotia, is set to begin hearings on [...]

MCC Day 61 – Halifax Regional Police Chief Dan Kinsella

The Mass Casualty Commission heard today from Halifax Regional Police Chief Dan Kinsella today. Chief Kinsella was brought in to discuss the HRP role in the events of April 18-19, 2020, as well as the structure of policing in Nova Scotia. HRP and the RCMP each cover different areas of Halifax Regional Municipality, and so confront issues of interoperability on a [...]

MCC Day 60 – Commissioner Lucki Cross Examination Revelations

After spending over half the day yesterday on the stand, national RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki was back to give further testimony today. She was questioned yesterday by MCC lawyer Rachel Young, and Patterson Law’s Michael Scott, who was selected to be first to cross examine Comm. Lucki. Today, that cross examination continued. In my piece yesterday, I noted how Comm. Lucki [...]

MCC Day 59 – Commissioner Brenda Lucki and RCMP Leadership Conflicts

The MCC proceedings continued to focus today on the leadership of the RCMP, featuring continuing testimony from the now-retired former Commanding Officer for the RCMP in Nova Scotia, Lee Bergerman, and the current national Commissioner of the RCMP, Brenda Lucki. The contrast in leadership style and competence between the two was on stark display, and it was not a contrast that [...]

MCC Day 58 – NS RCMP Commanding Officer Lee Bergerman

After a three-week summer break, the Mass Casualty Commission resumed proceedings today, with testimony from retired Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman. Asst. Comm. Bergerman was the head of the RCMP in Nova Scotia at the time of the events of the mass casualty. She retired from the RCMP just before the MCC proceedings were set to start last October. The timing of [...]

MCC Day 57 – Participants’ Counsel Question Chief Superintendent Leather

The final day of Mass Casualty Commission proceedings before a three week break featured some revelations, expressions of regret, and careful answers from Chief Superintendent Chris Leather, who was the second ranking RCMP officer in Nova Scotia at the time of the events of the April 18-19, 2020 mass shooting. These all emerged from cross examination by lawyers for the family [...]

MCC Day 56 – Chief Superintendent Chris Leather

The Mass Casualty Commission continued to hear from senior NS-based RCMP commanders today, with testimony from Chief Superintendent Chris Leather. C/Sup Leather was the second ranking officer in Nova Scotia at the time of the events of the mass casualty. He was in Halifax after having testified Monday in Ottawa before the Federal Public Safety and National Security Subcommittee. Among the [...]

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