This week in law, the Serious Incident Response Team's interim director is busy revisiting cases - the Onslow-Belmont shooting during the NS Mass Shooting, and the wrongful conviction of Glen Assoun.
The NS Court of Appeal had harsh words for Provincial Court Judge Alain Begin after Judge Begin made remarks about an accused before closing arguments, and then tried to have those comments removed from the record that would go to the Court of Appeal.
After the Randy Riley not guilty verdict, the Witness Protection Plan tried to have a publication ban made retroactive, but were rightly turned down by Justice Arnold.
Finally, I discuss the housing crisis, and how courts are likely to treat any efforts to remove tent encampments from public property.
Also discussed in this episode, the UK hockey manslaughter charge, President Trump's efforts to be declared immune from criminal prosecution, and the Cameron Ortis guilty verdict.

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This week in law, we have seen a very unusual charge out of the United Kingdom. A hockey player has died as a result of a collision on the ice, where the skate from the opposing player hit him in the neck and ultimately led to his death. Prosecutors in the UK have charged Matt Petgrave, the other player, with manslaughter. I describe what manslaughter is supposed to mean, and how it might apply in this case.
Other cases being covered this week are the closing of the Cameron Ortis trial, the Nathanial Veltman terrorism verdict, the verdict in the murder trial of U.S. cyclist Moriah Wilson, the Supreme Court of Canada's rejection of the Crown appeal of former IWK CEO Tracy Kitch, and a DUI case out of Truro where the issue of whether police can knock on a door and ask questions of the occupants.
Finally, I examine the remarks of Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, who visited the southern border of the Gaza Strip. His main purpose was to put participants on notice that the ICC was watching matters closely, and were actively investigating the actions of Hamas that started the conflict.

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This week saw the end of the fall sitting of the NS Legislature, with long sitting days, and a few pieces of legislation passed, as the PC government passes the halfway point of its mandate.
The trial of Cameron Ortis, the former Director of the RCMP Operations Research group, a high level intelligence unit, brings to mind what would happen if Ethan Hunt or James Bond were brought to trial. Ortis is alleged to have shared secret information with money launderers, while he claims to have been trying to root out moles in the upper echelons of the RCMP.
At the same time, the National Security and Intelligence Committee is looking to change the way the RCMP is structured. It is not clear that anyone with the power to make those changes is paying attention.
In BC, a husband in a highly acrimonious divorce was convicted of voyeurism after his wife found a hidden camera in their bedroom.
In NS, two cases involving large amounts of money stolen - in one, former investment advisor Quinton Sponagle is at risk of going to jail if he does not pay back $1.1 million stolen. In another, Dawn Ellis-Abbot is found to have stolen $3.2 million from Millbrook First Nation.
Finally, I look to the appeal of the stay of proceedings involving Dr. Fashoranti, a doctor in Amherst who had been accused of sexual assault against three patients. This case raises serious question about the conduct of the crown prosecutors on the case.

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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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This week in law, I examine why Crown Prosecutors in Nova Scotia are speaking out about the frailties of the NS justice system.
I compare some of the early information from the Lewiston, Maine shootings to the NS Mass Shooting and lessons learned through the MCC.
There is a new Supreme Court of Canada Justice - I cover the suspect reasons for the vacancy, and the process for appointing a SCC Justice.
John Carpay and Randal Cameron, the lawyers behind the effort to follow a judge around with a private investigator during the covid lockdowns, have been banned from practicing law in Canada for three years as part of a plea deal. I examine that situation.
Finally, I cover two NS cases that were published this week - one a sad story of a missed diagnosis on a newborn, and the other an unusual case of the Crown applying to have a defense lawyer removed from a homicide trial.

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This week, I review a Dalhousie Law School graduate who challenged the Alberta Law Society's requirement to swear allegiance to the Queen, the Federal Crown asking the court to impose a retroactive publication ban (and then threatening to charge the Halifax Examiner with violating that publication ban) after an embarrassing display from a witness protection program witness, indigenous fishers charged in 54 cases in Nova Scotia, and a warning from the Supreme Court of NS about lawyers using artificial intelligence in their legal arguments.
Before getting into the big stories, I mention the Trump lawyers who plead guilty this week to election interference charges, the Saskatchewan Parents' Bill of Rights passing, and the five year anniversary of the legalization of cannabis in Canada.

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This week I look at some prominent cases brewing in Nova Scotia, along with a few situations of national scope.
In NS, Provincial Court Judge Rickola Brinton is suing the Provincial Court and the former Chief Judge over trying to get her to declare her vaccination status back in 2021. Judge Brinton is looking to stay on long term disability and be paid out until she is age 65 over the issue.
The federal crown is threatening to charge the Halifax Examiner, over their coverage of the Randy Riley trial, particularly their publication of details of a witness who appears to have been abusing the witness protection program.
Colin MacDonald, one of the wealthiest Nova Scotians, is being accused of sexual misconduct by a former IWK Foundation fundraiser. I examine what his defenses might be.
Nationally, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down environmental assessment legislation brought in by the federal Liberals in 2019, whereby 'special projects', such as pipelines, would be subjected to a special procedure.
I also discuss the gender/pronoun/parental rights situation in Saskatchewan, and the Ottawa trucker convoy trial.

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Happy Thanksgiving weekend! This week, I examine the Randy Riley not-guilty verdict and the unnecessarily long path to justice that was involved in his case. I also look at the Occupational Health and Safety case against Nova Scotia Power and Brunswick Engineering, which had closing arguments this week. Finally, I look at the trial of Pat King, one of the Freedom Convoy organizers. Mr. King is attempting to move his trial from Ottawa, due to his notoriety in the city.

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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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