JUDGE HONOURED BY SABA OF NORTH AMERICA Justice Russell Juriansz has been recognized by the South Asian Bar Association of North America with its Pioneer Award.
Ron Choudhury of Miller Thomson LLP is the recipient of the association’s Cornerstone Award, the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario received the Public Service Achievement Award, and BMO Financial has been recognized with the Enterprise Award. The awards were given out during the association’s annual convention in Houston this month.
“Justice Juriansz is only the second Canadian to be awarded SABA North America’s Pioneer Award,” according to a SABA of Toronto news release. “Justice Juriansz is being honoured for, in part, being the first South Asian judge appointed to the Superior Court of Justice and the first minority judge appointed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario.”
OMBUDSMAN CALLS TO ABOLISH INDEFINITE SEGREGATION Ombudsman Paul Dubé has called on Ontario to stop putting prisoners in segregation for indefinite periods of time.
“Indefinite segregation should no longer be an accepted or legal correctional practice in Ontario,” said Dubé in a news release.
The ombudsman has released a submission to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services called Segregation: Not an Isolated Problem, that details 28 recommendations, including “creating an independent panel to review segregation placements, and giving procedures — such as a 15-day limit on placements — the force of law.”
ONTARIO ACCESS TO JUSTICE CHALLENGE LAUNCHED The Legal Innovation Zone at Ryerson University has announced the Ontario Access to Justice Challenge, where up to six startups will receive support. The challenge is receiving support from Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General.
“The Ontario Access to Justice Challenge will offer up to six successful innovative startups admission to the LIZ to develop their ideas. The best among them will share $50,000 in seed money,” according to a news release from Ryerson University. “The Challenge is expected to result in products, technologies, or processes that will have a direct positive impact on access to justice in Ontario. Founders or co-founders whose startups contribute to the public’s access to the justice system are encouraged to apply.”
LAW TIMES POLL Law Times reported a recent Superior Court decision, Daggitt v. Campbell, gained attention because of strong words a judge had about an expert witness repeatedly criticized for bias. Readers were asked if a judge should strike experts from trial at a preliminary stage.
Eighty-one per cent of respondents said yes, if the expert showed a clear pattern of bias, judges should strike them from trial at a preliminary stage. But 19 per cent said no, it was not prudent or fair to strike experts at a preliminary stage, and this didn’t honour the court process.
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