R v. Cook: The Need to Prevent Evidence of Gang Affiliation to Ensure Trial Fairness
Based on a 2024 report from the Guns and Gangs Awareness Campaign, one in five Canadians report that they or someone close to them has been affected by gang-related violence. Given the threat of gang-related violence to the safety and well-being of Canadian society, it is understandable that most jurors – constituting Canadian citizens performing their civic duty – would want to know whether an accused is a gang member or not.
