Archive
15 Jul

Ontario’s courts arguably most closed in country

News The Supreme Court of Canada has described open courts as a “core value” as central to the justice system as the presumption of innocence. Yet at the trial court […]

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15 Jul

Legal system erects barriers to open justice

CommentaryNo one disputes that open courts are a hallmark of a democratic society. But media lawyer Alan Shanoff, writing the June 14, 2008 edition of the Law Times, says it’s time […]

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17 Jun

Judge releases Bernardo video

Toronto (June 11, 2008) — An Ontario judge has released a videotape of a statement convicted murderer Paul Bernado gave to police in 2007 denying involvement in the murder of […]

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29 Oct

Anatomy of an ATI release

CP’s Bruce Cheadle describes yet another unsuccessful access to information request, in this case seeking government briefing materials on the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. The latest batch of blacked-out documents arrived […]

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29 Oct

Ruling shields informers’ identities

NewsReinforcing the protection given to confidential police informers, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the court and Crown have no discretion to disclose any details to the public […]

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28 Sep

Covering the U.S. courts

BackgrounderConrad Black’s fraud trial in Chicago highlighted the differences between the Canadian and American systems of justice. A Canadian journalist who needs to know how a grand jury works or […]

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27 Sep

N.S. rulings blazed trail of openness

By Dean Jobb Linden MacIntyre’s request was simple. The CBC Television reporter, now a host of the investigative program the fifth estate, wanted to see search warrants used to seize […]

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27 Sep

Ontario appeal court to broadcast live online

By Robert Benzie Toronto StarAttorney General Michael Bryant is expanding the scope of cameras in Ontario courtrooms. As of today, some Ontario Court of Appeal proceedings will be available live […]

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24 May

Some court cases to be webcast

Some court proceedings will appear on the Internet, and fees to access court documents will be reduced, Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant told journalists at an international conference. Bryant was […]

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23 May

‘Public’ file anything but: Access denied in dog photo case

By Tracey TylerToronto Star Legal Affairs ReporterIt was only a picture of a dog. But it was guarded like a state secret. Somewhere in an Ontario court file there’s a […]

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