It has been an exciting time for the Section. At the CBA Annual General Meeting, we presented a resolution on the right to reasonable bail in Canada. Jacqueline Beckles seconded the resolution on behalf of the Section and spoke eloquently about the importance of this right. We were successful in moving the resolution, which means it is now official CBA policy to defend the right to reasonable bail.
I also wanted to take a moment to highlight resolutions from both the CBA Women Lawyers Forum and the CBA Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section that touch upon criminal law issues, such as 2SLGBTQ+ protections in law and the right to abortion access. These resolutions have positive spillover implications for criminal law, and I am pleased to see they passed.
Our Section has been busy with a number of important initiatives, including our annual CBA Criminal Justice Conference in Vancouver on April 6, 2024. I hope to see members of the Executive at the in-person Executive meeting the day prior to the conference.
Our Section has also drafted submissions to Parliament on the Miscarriage of Justice Commission and the Coercive Control private-members bill, on which we collaborated with the CBA Family Law Section. Both Fanny Albrecht and David Parry participated in a roundtable discussion on foreign interference in Canadian politics and we anticipate providing our views on this and other important international criminal law issues in the coming weeks, including our submission on the Budapest Protocol (European Council on Cybercrime). Watch our submissions webpage for updates!
To say it has been a busy, productive, and rewarding term so far is an understatement.
CBA CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE – APRIL 6, 2024 (VANCOUVER, BC)
The CBA Criminal Justice Section is once again hosting its in-person conference in Vancouver on April 6, 2024.
The conference will focus on the complex and dynamic legal landscape involved with prosecuting, defending and adjudicating sexual assault offences. Our expert panels will provide an opportunity for timely discussions on a variety of topics in this very complex and developing area of criminal law.
Come along and hear from our leading prosecutors, defence lawyers and judges from across Canada who will examine and discuss critical areas of substantive law and procedure, including: s. 276 and 278 applications; the defence of honest but mistaken belief; the common sense inference and practical sessions on cross-examination and ethics.
The conference agenda is now live and features esteemed speakers from the bench and bar. It is guaranteed to be a day of insightful and captivating discussion.
REGISTER NOW →
WORKING GROUP AND SUBMISSIONS ON ADVOCACY
The Section is currently engaged in preparing submissions for consideration such as the following:
- Miscarriage of Justice: this subcommittee filed a submission on Bill C-40 and appeared on November 28, 2023. Consideration in Committee is finished.
- Coercive Control private-members bill: Prepared a submission on Bill C-332 in collaboration with the CBA Family Law Section.
- Foreign Interference Roundtable Discussion: currently drafting a submission on foreign interference in Canadian politics. Stay tuned for details.
2024 CBA CRIMINAL JUSTICE ESSAY CONTEST – CURRENT ISSUES IN CANADIAN SENTENCING LAW
Our Section will launch its first Essay Contest! A $500 prize will be offered to the winner.
The award is presented annually for the best English or French scholarly paper received by the submission date on a subject relating to current issues in Canadian sentencing law by an individual who is a full-time or a part-time student currently enrolled at a Canadian law school.
Also, all current graduating law students, articling students, candidates in the Law Practice Program and National Committee on Accreditation candidates enrolled at a Canadian law school, are eligible to enter as long as they are not called to the Bar in Canada.
The submission deadline for this year’s contest is May 2, 2024. Details on the contest criteria and eligibility are available.
COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS TOOLKIT
This updated resource aims to help lawyers and judges gain a better understanding of the impact of criminal convictions on offenders as they navigate the judicial and carceral system.
CALL FOR MEMBER ARTICLES
Our Section is looking to feature member articles in Voir Dire. If you are interested in having an article published, please let us know. Our liaison officer, Madison Coulas, would be happy to connect with you.
Sincerely,
Kyla Lee
Chair, CBA Criminal Justice Section, 2023-2024