Robson Crim Legal Blog

Humans are faced with a puzzling dilemma in the age of technology. Do we conform to societies terms accepting technology or do we disregard societal norms and leave everything behind, commencing the hermit life. While the latter has its merits the trade off is unacceptable to most, the loss of relationships and being in the know is too much to stomach. Humans like normal and thrive off what they know. But what happens when we allow governments to go too far and use technology

Manitoba’s Court of Appeal recently affirmed a trial judge’s sentencing decision involving consideration of Gladue factors in the case of dangerous offenders. In R. v Dumas, the accused was given concurrent indeterminate sentences on two cases of sexual assault. Dumas, an Indigenous man, appealed his sentence and argued that the trial judge erred in applying relevant Gladue factors which would have led the judge to hand down a 20-year determinate sentence and a subsequent 10-

In today’s day and age, it is common to hear of many instances of police brutality and abuses of power. Although many of these stories come from our neighbours down south, Canadian authorities have also been involved in allegations of abuse of power. Undoubtedly, we share many similarities with the United States, but it is integral to our constitution and our rights as Canadians that we not follow their example in many ways, one of which is police brutality and abuse of autho

Although courts have gradually been adapting when it comes to understanding of gendered violence, the arguments put forth by Janet E. Mosher in the article, Grounding Access to Justice Theory and Practice in the Experiences of Women Abused by Their Intimate Partners, still gives insightful commentary in the way that courts have operated as proxies for that violence. It would be interesting to consider how this concept has applied to other categories of criminal cases.

n R v. Johnson, the accused pled guilty to cocaine possession for the purpose of trafficking. The trial judge suspended the sentence and imposed 3 years of supervised probation. This case starts back in February of 2014, when Johnson was released on an undertaking regarding contact with the mother of his children. 10 months later police responded to a domestic disturbance call where Johnson was found to be in breach of his undertaking and arrested.