Latest from Michael Spratt
Opinion
'Smarter and stronger'? New law is really a cruel gutting of access to justice for the impoverished
Ontario's Smarter and Stronger Justice Act, introduced this week, could create a destructive feedback loop that will crush the province's legal aid system, writes Michael Spratt.
Opinion
Ford's cuts to legal aid will end up costing Ontario way more than they save
Unrepresented litigants devour justice system resources. Clogged courts could mean more charges thrown out due to unconstitutional delay.
Opinion
The presumption of innocence is for courtrooms, not politics
The presumption of innocence operates in our courts of law to protect people charged with crimes from the power of the state to deprive them of their liberty. It does not operate to immunize political leaders from scrutiny.
Opinion
The case against cameras in the courtroom
Last week, for the first time, an Alberta judge allowed a camera in the courtroom as he delivered his decision in a murder trial. There's a risk that an exception such as that seen in the Vader case could become the rule. Be careful what you wish for, Ottawa criminal lawyer Michael Spratt writes in a guest column.