Legal-aid lawyers across B.C. are threatening to adjourn hundreds of criminal trials if they can’t reach a funding agreement with government. The lawyers plan to adjourn six weeks of criminal cases, from shoplifting to murders, in courtrooms across the province from Oct. 7 to 10, if the Legal Services Society of B.C. can’t reach a […]
Legal opinions confirm TWU accreditation should not occur
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminTWU Law A Reply to Proponents of Approval An Equality Perspective on the Accreditation of TWU’s Proposed Law Facul… Letter from Michael Mulligan to the profession, July 16, 2014: July 16 email to profession
U.S. court restricts cellphone searches
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminPolice generally need a warrant, echoing decision rendered in B.C. WASHINGTON — In a strong defence of digital age privacy, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that police may not generally search the cellphones of people they arrest without first getting search warrants.
Remarks by Michael Mulligan introducing the resolution at the June 10 Special General Meeting of the Law Society of BC
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminIn our time, we are just coming out of a long dark history of wrongful discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Some relief has come in our time, but we are not yet done rectifying this terrible injustice.
Judges Wrestle with Federally Mandated Surcharge on Offenders
/in MTP Media /by mtp_adminVictoria provincial court judges are quietly doing an end run around the Harper government’s new mandatory surcharge to fund victim services. A new law that took effect in late October does not allow judges to waive the victim fine surcharge of 30 per cent of a fine or a flat fee of $100 or $200. […]
Sheriff, Justice Ministry find woman a place to stay during Victoria hearing
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminWhen Whitney Rae Furber attends her preliminary hearing in Victoria provincial court this week, she’ll stay at the West Shore RCMP detachment where she’ll be able to have a shower. Victoria police have refused to house Furber, who is charged with the attempted murder of a bouncer at the Strathcona Hotel, saying its cell block […]
Comment: B.C. should mitigate minimum sentences
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminBritish Columbia’s attorney general should take steps to minimize the costs of federally mandated minimum sentences in the province. The federal government is responsible for passing criminal law, including the setting of penalties for particular offences. The provinces are responsible for the administration of justice, which includes the prosecution of criminal offences.
Legal-aid dispute threatens hundreds of criminal trials
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminLegal-aid lawyers across B.C. are threatening to adjourn hundreds of criminal trials if they can’t reach a funding agreement with government. The lawyers plan to adjourn six weeks of criminal cases, from shoplifting to murders, in courtrooms across the province from Oct. 7 to 10, if the Legal Services Society of B.C. can’t reach a […]
Editorial: Make courts more efficient
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminThe budget crunch facing the Justice Ministry is evidence of the need to get on with overhauling B.C.’s justice system. A system that handles cases reasonably quickly and efficiently will not only be more fair and effective, but will also be less costly. And the Herculean task of cutting expenses would be significantly easier if […]