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Full-Text Articles in Law
Wrongful Extradition: Reforming The Committal Phase Of Canada’S Extradition Law, Robert Currie
Wrongful Extradition: Reforming The Committal Phase Of Canada’S Extradition Law, Robert Currie
Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press
There has recently been an upswing in interest around extradition in Canada, particularly in light of the high-profile and troubling case of Hassan Diab who was extradited to France on the basis of what turned out to be an ill-founded case. Diab’s case highlights some of the problems with Canada’s Extradition Act and proceedings thereunder. This paper argues that the “committal stage” of extradition proceedings, involving a judicial hearing into the basis of the requesting state’s case, is unfair and may not be compliant with the Charter and that the manner in which the Crown conducts these proceedings contributes to …
Extradition And Trial Delays: Recent Developments (And Lessons?) From Canada, Robert Currie, Laura Ellyson
Extradition And Trial Delays: Recent Developments (And Lessons?) From Canada, Robert Currie, Laura Ellyson
Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press
Extradition – the formal rendition of criminal fugitives between states – is well-known to be a time-consuming process that often has impacts, minor or major, on the ability of states to complete prosecution in a timely manner. Thus, the extradition process can sometimes be at odds with the right to trial within a reasonable time, which is part of the overall package of fair trial rights enshrined in international human rights law. In Canada, this right is implemented by paragraph 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In recent years Canadian courts have developed a series of principles …
Cross-Border Evidence Gathering In Transnational Criminal Investigation: Is The Microsoft Ireland Case The 'Next Frontier'?, Robert Currie
Cross-Border Evidence Gathering In Transnational Criminal Investigation: Is The Microsoft Ireland Case The 'Next Frontier'?, Robert Currie
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A recent and prominent American appeals court case has revived a controversial international law question: can a state compel a person on its territory to obtain and produce material which the person owns or controls, but which is stored on the territory of a foreign state? The case involved, United States v. Microsoft, features electronic data stored offshore which was sought in the context of a criminal prosecution. It highlights the current legal complexity surrounding the cross-border gathering of electronic evidence, which has produced friction and divergent state practice. The author here contends that the problems involved are best understood—and …
Criminal Reports: United States Of America V. Khadr, Steve Coughlan, Robert Currie
Criminal Reports: United States Of America V. Khadr, Steve Coughlan, Robert Currie
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The United States of America sought the extradition of the applicant to face terrorism-related charges. The applicant had been taken into custody by the Pakistani Intelligence Agency, the ISI, and held in a secret detention centre for approximately fourteen months before he was released and repatriated to Canada. He had been interrogated by American FBI agents while in Pakistan and had given them a statement. He also gave a statement to CSIS following his return to Canada, and shortly after that gave a second statement to FBI officials. The applicant sought a stay of proceedings of the extradition hearing on …
R. V. Munyaneza: Pondering Canada's First Core Crimes Conviction, Robert Currie
R. V. Munyaneza: Pondering Canada's First Core Crimes Conviction, Robert Currie
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Canada recently completed its first genocide trial, which resulted in the conviction of the Rwandan accused, Desiré Munyaneza, for crimes committed during the Rwandan genocide. While the case is still under appeal, it represents a significant success for Canada’s relatively new core crimes legislation, the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, and was the first prosecution undertaken pursuant to that law. Drawing upon the Munyaneza case, the authors analyze the legislation and evaluate its effectiveness. They conclude that the model is an effective one that both bodes well for Canada’s future participation in the battle against impunity, and provides …
Book Review: The International Criminal Court: A Commentary On The Rome Statute By William Schabas, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, Robert Currie
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"A Commentary on the Rome Statute" by William Schabas is a giant of a work by a giant in the field. This review examines the breadth and scope of one of the most important works in the field, concluding that the book is not just an excellent resource but an indispensable one for anyone working in or following the field of international criminal justice.
Global Reach, Local Grasp: Constructing Extraterritorial Jurisdiction In The Age Of Globalization, Steve Coughlan, Robert Currie, Hugh Kindred, Teresa Scassa
Global Reach, Local Grasp: Constructing Extraterritorial Jurisdiction In The Age Of Globalization, Steve Coughlan, Robert Currie, Hugh Kindred, Teresa Scassa
Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press
The reach of national law is often greater than its grasp. Canada, like other countries, has effective legal power over its territory and all within it. However, one consequence of the current process of globalization, for good or ill, is that Canadian interests are no longer contained exclusively within Canadian borders. Canada thus finds it increasingly necessary to consider asserting its legal jurisdiction beyond its frontiers. Such extraterritorial assertion of Canadian authority may well run into strong opposition from other countries, who might view Canada as attempting to intervene in their own national territory and domestic affairs. Likewise, other states, …
Human Rights And International Mutual Legal Assistance: Resolving The Tension, Robert Currie
Human Rights And International Mutual Legal Assistance: Resolving The Tension, Robert Currie
Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press
If indeed, as has been said, "it is fashionable nowadays to discuss the problems that arise from the application of general human rights to extradition", then it is also true that human rights concerns are increasingly being raised with regard to other forms of international criminal co-operation as well. As compliance with international human rights norms has become the subject of greater scrutiny by both States and international adjudicative bodies, concerns have been raised regarding their application to the various processes by which States aid each other in combating transnational crime. Prosecuting authorities are presented with problems of how the …
Human Rights And International Mutual Legal Assistance: Resolving The Tension, Robert Currie
Human Rights And International Mutual Legal Assistance: Resolving The Tension, Robert Currie
Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press
If indeed, as has been said, "it is fashionable nowadays to discuss the problems that arise from the application of general human rights to extradition", then it is also true that human rights concerns are increasingly being raised with regard to other forms of international criminal co-operation as well. As compliance with international human rights norms has become the subject of greater scrutiny by both States and international adjudicative bodies, concerns have been raised regarding their application to the various processes by which States aid each other in combating transnational crime. Prosecuting authorities are presented with problems of how the …