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Full-Text Articles in Law

The Big Chill?: Contextual Judgment After R. V Hamilton, Richard Devlin, Matthew Sherrard Oct 2005

The Big Chill?: Contextual Judgment After R. V Hamilton, Richard Devlin, Matthew Sherrard

Dalhousie Law Journal

The tone and thrust of the Ontario Court ofAppeal's decision in R. v. Hamilton will serve to chill efforts by sentencing judges to tailor their responsibilities to accord with the recognized realities of systemic and intersectional inequality in Canadian society The decision presents an unduly conservative response to the judicial function question, and an understandable, if excessively cautious, answer with regard to the application of systemic, intersectional inequality issues in practice. Specifically, the decision underplays the overall remedial goal of section 718 of the Criminal Code by overemphasizing the particularity of Aboriginal peoples, and ignoring the specificity of especially vulnerable …


Uncovering The Presumption Of Factual Innocence In Canadian Law, Mark Herrema Oct 2005

Uncovering The Presumption Of Factual Innocence In Canadian Law, Mark Herrema

Dalhousie Law Journal

The presumption of innocence has long been regarded as a hallmark of our justice system. Rhetoric abounds and finding a more celebrated legal doctrine is difficult. For most in the legalprofession, the presumption of innocence represents the procedural requirement that the Crown prove all elements of an offence. Yet, aside from its procedural and evidentiary protections, does the presumption of innocence offer any protection at the pre-charge phase of the criminal justice process? Specifically, for the majority of Canadians who have never been, or never will be charged with an offence, does the presumption of innocence offer any protection? Regrettably, …