Historical Cases

Iacobucci Jury Roll Review On August 11, 2011, the Ontario Government announced that an independent review would be conducted into the issue of First Nations Reserve community members’ exclusion from jury rolls in Ontario.  Former Supreme Court of Canada Justice, the Honourable Justice Frank Iacobucci, was appointed to conduct a systemic review by reporting on past practices, and to make recommendations to enhance representation of First Nations in the justice system. His report was re...

Booth v. Huxter:  The Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board (the “Board”), and five police officers who were present when one of their number shot and killed a citizen in the course of attempting to arrest him, were granted standing at an inquest into his death. The Board, the Chief of Police and the officers were all represented by the same counsel. After 20 months into the inquest, the coroner decided that the counsel was disqualified from representing the applicants because...

Shawn and Tricia Drennan are landowners facing a pending windfarm project known as Kingsbridge II. Kingsbridge II will consist of upwards of 150 turbines one of which will be as close as approximately 650 meters from their home. Twelve more turbines will be located within the surrounding two kilometers. After learning that eleven families living amongst two different wind projects (one located in their neighbouring township) had their homes purchased by wind companies, the Drennans sought to gat...

On June 26, 2010, Adam Nobody was one of many citizens who attended at Queen’s Park, the designated free speech zone, to peacefully assemble and protest during the G20 conference. At the Queen’s Park rally, police surrounded protestors and began to advance upon them in an attempt to have the protestors disperse. During the police advance, several members of the Toronto Police Service tackled Mr. Nobody to the ground and delivered several blows to Mr. Nobody. Once detained and handcuffed, Mr....

Toronto (Metropolitan) Police Force v. Bromell et al:  The Toronto Police Service Association and its President commenced a fundraising campaign. Significant aspects of the campaign included collecting funds from the public to help the Association challenge politicians who did not support the Association and to help elect those who did. The Association compiled a list of people who did or did not support the campaign through financial contribution, and distributed car decals and wallet cards to...