Justice Abella
R v Brassington: Privilege Cannot Pierce Privilege
On July 20th 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously held that “although solicitor-client privilege provides a near-impenetrable shield for communications with counsel, it is not a sword that can be wielded to pierce informer privilege.” In other words, privilege cannot pierce privilege. Confident and well-constructed, Justice Abella’s decision for the Court in R v […]
Selecting the New Chief Justice
On December 15th, 2017, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, will retire after a long and historic career. Along with the task of selecting a new Supreme Court Justice to fill the vacancy, the Prime Minister will be required to appoint McLachlin’s successor as the new Chief Justice. This […]
The Way Back Play Back on Canada's Supreme Court Judges
Do you know which judge tried to claim $50,000 a year in clothing expenses from 2004 to 2006 as a tax deduction? Can you name the bencher that was a former piano prodigy? Who hails from Don Mills and Lawrence Avenue in Toronto? We give you a “behind the robes” look at the nine current […]
A Web of Instinct: Kahkewistahaw First Nation v Taypotat
Kahkewistahaw First Nation v Taypotat, 2015 SCC 30, is the Supreme Court of Canada’s ("SCC") most recent decision on equality. Coming in at a brief 35 paragraphs, this decision does not alter the law of section 15 of the Charter in any substantial way. Using the test laid out in Quebec v A, [2013] 1 SCR 61, Justice Abella […]