Criminal
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February 13, 2026
Canada funds youth gang prevention project in New Brunswick
The Government of Canada is investing in youth gang prevention by dedicating $628,068 of federal funding to the John Howard Society of New Brunswick through Public Safety Canada’s Youth Gang Prevention Fund (YGPF).
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February 13, 2026
New Brunswick assault charge involves accused offering police ‘a present’
Penalty: Jeremy Robert Weldon, 75 hours of community service for farting.
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February 13, 2026
Self-represented with duty counsel help wins new trial at Ontario Court of Appeal
When Abraham Lincoln was running for president of the United States in 1864, some advised him to change his vice-presidential running mate, while others cautioned him not to “change horses in midstream.” The adage persists to this day. Dismissing counsel during trial and retaining new counsel can also be risky. Yet that is what Kishoyian Kipusi did anyway.
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February 12, 2026
‘Distemper of our times’ calls for judges to balance restraint with principled ‘bold action’: CJ Joyal
“Bold” but “properly calibrated” judicial action, rather than reflexive judicial reticence and reserve, is sometimes necessary to preserve public confidence in the justice system — a confidence on which the foundational principle of judicial independence depends, says Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal.
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February 12, 2026
Manitoba supporting projects protecting women, gender-diverse people
Manitoba’s government is furthering its efforts to protect women and gender-diverse residents from violence through its funding of a recently launched community program.
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February 12, 2026
Ontario Court of Appeal calling for papers to honour late Justice Bertha Wilson
The Ontario Court of Appeal is calling for papers to mark the 50th anniversary of the late Bertha Wilson’s appointment to the court as part of a symposium honouring the woman who went on to become Canada’s first female Supreme Court justice.
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February 12, 2026
Ontario Court of Appeal decision informed by complainant’s motive to fabricate evidence
The fabrication of a story alleging that a crime was committed would necessarily result in an acquittal. Proving such motivation can be tricky. Defence counsel for Ryan Alexander Stuart chose to confront a complainant of sexual assault directly by asking a simple question: “Is it fair to say, ma’am, that you were concerned about having sex with Ryan and that it was going to interfere or harm your chances to get back with your ex?”
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February 11, 2026
Saskatchewan Appeal Court explores self-defence in assault case
Criminal court judges must be “alive” to any “air of reality” to self-defence claims in assault cases, says a lawyer acting in a matter where an online argument turned into a fight involving a baseball bat and skateboard.
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February 11, 2026
Student paper snapshots in animal law: Limits of Canada’s animal welfare recognition
Next in my animal law student paper snapshot series, I’m highlighting a research paper on cetaceans by my animal law student at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC, Isabella Schopper.
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February 11, 2026
Five years for Snapchat-facilitated child sexual offences in B.C., and what it signals for sentencing
A recent Campbell River, B.C., case in which a 33-year-old Surrey, B.C., man received a five-year penitentiary sentence after pleading guilty to child sexual offences involving a youth he met on Snapchat is a reminder of how digital communications continue to increase in relevancy within the criminal justice system.