Criminal Law Archives

Protection of journalistic sources, SCC decision in Denis v. Côté

Sep 28 2019

On Friday September 27, 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada released a decision interpreting the provisions of the Canada Evidence Act that sets out the rules in cases where protection of journalistic sources is central. The protection of journalistic sources is a key concern for journalists across Canada. Often whistle-blowers or parties with reliable evidence […]

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Changes to jury selection process cannot be applied retrospectively

Sep 27 2019

A BC court has ruled that changes to the jury selection process brought in as part of Bill C-75 cannot be applied retrospectively. As we previously explained on this blog, Bill C-75 gained Royal Assent in June, however, some of the changes it made to the Criminal Code only came into effect on September 19.

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Civil forfeiture in BC: how to fight it

Sep 24 2019

The British Columbia government is revising civil forfeiture laws in the province. The Crown will have greater powers to take suspected a criminal’s property. It will also be more difficult for them to get it back. This blog will explain what civil forfeiture is, how it is changing and what you should do if the

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Choosing The Right Lawyer for your Case

Sep 23 2019

At Acumen Law the type of people we represent are generally the type that have never been in trouble with the law before. They are good people who may have been wrongly accused, or who have made a mistake or error in judgment. So for most of our clients, they have no experience in how

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Bill C-75: changes to criminal justice system now in effect

Sep 20 2019

Bill C-75 gained Royal Assent in June. However, the changes it brings to the justice system only came into force this week. Acumen Law Corporation has previously spoken out against Omnibus Bill C-75. In fact, Kyla Lee testified at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights against the legislation. Its stated

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Entering the US with an impaired driving conviction

Sep 4 2019

An impaired driving conviction can impact your life in many ways. It can affect your employability, hike up your insurance premiums and, in some cases, lead to a driving prohibition. Entering the US with an impaired driving conviction can also be complicated. This blog will explore how an impaired driving charge or conviction can affect

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Medical excuses for roadside sobriety test refusal

Aug 21 2019

A question we often get is what evidence is necessary to prove a medical excuse for a roadside sobriety test refusal. If a police officer suspects a driver has a drug in their body, one of the tools they use to detect impairment is a roadside sobriety test, also known as a standard field sobriety

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When can police search your cell phone?

Mar 25 2019

A recent decision has reaffirmed existing rules around when police can and cannot search your cell phone. In Canada, the right to privacy is enshrined in the Charter. Section 8 gives people the right to be secure from “unreasonable search or seizure”. It does not offer complete protection, however, and violations of this right are

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Sonia Gill-Kahlon: new articling student to join Acumen Law Corporation

Mar 19 2019

Acumen Law Corporation is pleased to welcome a new articling student to its team. Sonia Gill-Kahlon will be joining us after she completes her J.D. at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Before law school, Sonia obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, B.C. Before she attended

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Acumen Law Corporation to welcome new articling student Sarah MacDonald

Mar 18 2019

Acumen Law Corporation is pleased to welcome a new articling student to its team. Sarah MacDonald will be joining our firm after she finishes law school at the University of Calgary. Before law school, Sarah studied for a BA (Hon) in philosophy at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Sarah’s interest in law was sparked during

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The fault standard in luring offences

Mar 15 2019

This morning, the Supreme Court of Canada published a major decision regarding the fault standard for the offence of “luring” a minor under Section 172.1 of the Criminal Code. The offence of “luring” prohibits the act of speaking with someone online who presents themselves as being younger than the age of consent with the goal

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Adult criminal and youth court statistics shed light on R. v. Jordan

Jan 25 2019

New statistics have shed light on the Canadian justice system in the years prior to a Supreme Court decision that set time limits on the completion of criminal charges. Adult criminal and youth court statistics in Canada, 2016/2017, were released yesterday. They show the time taken to complete a charge – that is the time

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