ABLawg

“Amended Amended Redacted Document” Ordered Released to the Press and Public Fifteen Days after Judgment

On July 20, 2011

PDF version: “Amended Amended Redacted Document” Ordered Released to the Press and Public Fifteen Days after Judgment

Case considered: Globe & Mail v Alberta, 2011 ABQB 363 (“Globe and Mail“)

When the police want to obtain a search warrant, they file a document with a justice of the peace or judge called an “Information to Obtain a Search Warrant” or “ITO”. In this case, Judge J.D. Bascom had sealed the contents of an ITO filed on a case with respect to an “Unnamed Company”. The Globe and Mail applied to the Court of Queen’s Bench for access to the ITO (subject to some redactions).

Justice William Tilleman dealt with the application for access to the ITO, and noted that he had to “face the difficult task of balancing the sometimes competing rights to freedom of expression and the press, with the administration of justice, the protection of innocent persons, and the right to a fair trial” (Globe and Mail at para 2).

Pleading Fairly

By Alice Woolley

On July 18, 2011

In Criminal, Ethics and the Legal Profession

PDF version: Pleading Fairly

Case considered: R. v. Nixon, 2011 SCC 34

Introduction

In its June 3, 2011 Throne Speech, the Canadian government announced its plan to introduce an omnibus crime bill. Based on the limited information provided in the Speech, it appears that this legislation will increase the sanctions for some crimes, and eliminate judicial discretion on some matters of criminal sentencing:

Our Government will move quickly to reintroduce comprehensive law-and-order legislation to combat crime and terrorism. These measures will protect children from sex offenders. They will eliminate house arrest and pardons for serious crimes. They will give law enforcement officials, courts and victims the legal tools they need to fight criminals and terrorists. Our Government will continue to protect the most vulnerable in society and work to prevent crime. It will propose tougher sentences for those who abuse seniors and will help at?risk youth avoid gangs and criminal activity. It will address the problem of violence against women and girls (Throne Speech, p. 12).

The Throne Speech emphasized that the purpose of this legislation would be to protect “the personal safety of our citizens” and to “place the interests of law-abiding citizens ahead of criminals” (Throne Speech, p. 12).

It’s Difficult to Disinherit Some Adult Children

By Jonnette Watson Hamilton

On July 14, 2011

In Wills and Estates

PDF version: It’s Difficult to Disinherit Some Adult Children

Case considered: Soule v. Johansen Estate, 2011 ABQB 403

Alberta Justice has spent the past few years reviewing provincial succession laws and proposing reforms to consolidate and update the relevant provincial statutes. The result of the Alberta Succession Law Reform project was the passage of the new Wills and Succession Act, SA 2010, c W12.2 by the Alberta legislature in the fall of 2010 (Bill 21). However, because the changes are extensive, the new Wills and Succession Act will not come into force until it is proclaimed and proclamation is not expected until early 2012. It is interesting to consider whether or not the result in Soule v. Johansen Estate would have been any different under new law. In her will, Elsie Carrolle Johansen left all of her $116,000 estate to the Calgary Humane Society. She chose to disinherit her only son, Kim Soule, a 51 year old man suffering from hepatitis C, because she did not want her estate to be spent on drugs and alcohol. He asked the court to re-write his mother’s will under the Dependants Relief Act, RSA 2000, c D-10.5, because he is unable to earn a livelihood. Although Mr. Soule did not appear to be a sympathetic supplicant, he nevertheless prevailed. Justice Sheilah Martin rewrote his mother’s will to give all but $10,000 of his mother’s estate to Mr. Soule. Her main reason for doing so appears to be the predominantly pragmatic one of relieving taxpayers of the burden of Mr. Soule’s support.

Why Canada should Address Jorge Vinicio Orantes Sosa’s Alleged War Crimes before Extraditing Him to the U.S.

By Emma McAuliffe

On June 29, 2011

In Human Rights, International Law

PDF version: Why Canada should Address Jorge Vinicio Orantes Sosa’s Alleged War Crimes before Extraditing Him to the U.S.

This summer, Jorge Vinicio Orantes Sosa will fight extradition from Alberta to California to face immigration charges. Chief Justice Wittman will preside over the extradition hearing which been set to take place from August 16 to 17, 2011 at the Court of Queen’s Bench. This article suggests why Jorge Vinicio Orantes Sosa should have been first charged and tried in Canada for his alleged participation in war crimes during the Guatemalan civil conflict, before being extradited on lesser immigration charges.

The Effect of Non-compliance with the Dower Act – Yet Again

By Jonnette Watson Hamilton

On June 24, 2011

In Property

PDF version: The Effect of Non-compliance with the Dower Act – Yet Again

Case considered: Webb (Re), 2011 ABQB 89

The context of this dower case is somewhat unusual. The Registrar in Bankruptcy had directed a trial to determine whether a caveat registered by a Mr. Karafiat, which claimed a secured interest in a homestead, was invalid because it did not comply with the Dower Act. The parties’ concession that non-compliance with the requirements of the Dower Act, RSA 2000, c D-15 did not render the disposition of the homestead void is also somewhat unusual. This is the first case that I am aware of in which the parties conceded that non-compliance rendered the transaction voidable, and not void. It is true there has been a trend in Alberta towards finding that the effect of a disposition of a homestead without the consent of a spouse is to render the disposition voidable, and not void. However, the matter is not free from doubt because the Supreme Court of Canada’s last word on the issue held such a disposition was void ab initio.