International Law

Ontario Human Rights Tribunal "Overwhelmed" With Cases: Toronto Star

Posted on April 17, 2010
The Toronto Star's Moira Welsh looks at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, nearly two years after the implementation of sweeping procedural changes in the adjudication of human rights complaints in the Province:The new system was created to clear away a massive backlog...

Sexual Harassment Claims by Males Increasing

Posted on April 17, 2010
An interesting trend is emerging in American workplaces, spotted by the Workplace Prof Blog:Recent EEOC and BLS data is showing an increase in the number of sexual harassment claims filed by men. Such claims have gone up 12% over the last three years and now stand at 16...

The HST Tax is Coming July 1, 2010

Posted on April 15, 2010
The Law Society of Upper Canada's FAQ's address the transition:Effective July 1, 2010, the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will be implemented. The HST combines the GST and the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) into a single federally administered tax and work completed by lawyers and paralegals after July 1, 2010, will be subject to the full HST...

"Nearly Half" of Toronto Court Interpreters Fail A.G.'s Competency Test

Posted on April 15, 2010
A very serious indictment of court interpreters' services in the Toronto area from the Attorney General's offices:The results of a controversial test for court interpreters in the Toronto area could lead to widespread delays in trials and new grounds of appeal for defendants convicted of serious crimes...

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Michael Bryant Case Update

Posted on April 15, 2010
The Michael Bryant case returns to a Toronto court today, but the former Ontario Attorney General is not expected to attend. A new date for a further appearance is expected to be set.- Garry J. Wise, Toronto Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www...

Ontario Justice of the Peace Bans Lawyer's Laptop

Posted on April 15, 2010
A bizarre ruling, reported by National Post:An Ontario stunt-driving trial was adjourned before it began yesterday, when a Justice of the Peace banned a defence lawyer from using a laptop computer in his courtroom...But before the Crown prosecutor began her case, she objected to the slim aluminum MacBook that defence lawyer Sean Robichaud had just switched on...

Changing Winds in Legal Education

Posted on April 14, 2010
Via Law.com:Last Friday, a packed classroom filled with, among others, 75 law deans, members of law-school faculties and lawyers, listened to a discussion about the need to change U.S. legal education... Click here for the American Lawyer story.Panelists also discussed alternative law school models that might be worth exploring: accelerated programs, experiential learning and distance learning...

Camp Northland's 100 Years To Be Celebrated at Toronto Reunion Tonight

Posted on April 14, 2010
A cause close to my heart:The Globe and Mail previews a reunion tonight at Toronto, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Haliburton, Ontario's Camp Northland. The gala, "camp-chic" fundraiser will help send kids to camp. See you there, I hope.- Garry J...

Supreme Court Justices in the 21st Century

Posted on April 14, 2010
Today's New York Times features an excellent op-ed by University of Chicago law professor, Geoffrey R. Stone, on the modern role of U.S. Supreme Court Justices and the politically driven mythologies that continue to drive the conservative-liberal debate on this issue:AS the Senate awaits the nomination of a new Supreme Court justice, a frank discussion is needed on the proper role of judges in our constitutional system...

On Conservatives and SCOTUS Nominees

Posted on April 13, 2010
Michael Kinsley has some awfully good questions:Since they don't control Congress or the White House, conservatives are avoiding the term "conservative" as they gird for battle over a replacement for Justice Stevens. Instead they say "mainstream" or "centrist...

Teen Arrested for Underage Drinking

Posted on April 10, 2010
...while in the back seat of the police car that was escorting her home. And thus, Florida's Tasha Lee Cantrell earned legendary status as a Smoking Gun criminal genius.(h/t - Canada, eh?)- Garry J. Wise, Toronto Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www...

South Park vs. Facebook

Posted on April 10, 2010
Enjoy- Garry J. Wise, Toronto Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net EMPLOYMENT LAW ? CIVIL LITIGATION ? WILLS AND ESTATES ? FAMILY LAW & DIVORCEORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

Pennsylvania School Official Invokes 5th In High School Webcam Spying Case

Posted on April 09, 2010
Carol Cafiero was one of two school district employees authorized to remotely activate computer cameras in students' possession.(h/t Atrios)- Garry J. Wise, Toronto Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net EMPLOYMENT LAW ? CIVIL LITIGATION ? WILLS AND ESTATES ? FAMILY LAW & DIVORCEORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

The Digital Ontario Reports Fail

Posted on April 08, 2010
I received this morning's email with great anticipation.The inaugural digital edition of the Ontario Reports was, after numerous calls by bloggers, parody-video-makers and concerned environmentalists, at last, in my inbox.It went downhill from there...

Boy, 16, Sues Mom Over Facebook 'Harassment'

Posted on April 07, 2010
Via Associated Press:ARKADELPHIA, Ark. ? A 16-year-old Arkansas boy is suing his mother, accusing her of slandering him on his Facebook page.Denise New of Arkadelphia is charged with harassment and her son ? whose name has not been released ? is asking that his mother be prohibited from contacting him...

Wise Law Blog - Five Years and Counting

Posted on April 05, 2010
It would be an understatement to say I had no idea what I was getting myself into on April 5, 2005, when started this blog, stating simply,As an occasional contributor and frequent visitor to numerous politically oriented blogs from the USA, I have decided that the time has come for this distinctly Canadian voice to be heard in the blogosphere...

That April Foolin' New York Personal Injury Lawyer...

Posted on April 05, 2010
I confess that for a brief moment, I was fooled too.When our friend, Eric Turkiewicz of the New York Personal Injury Attorney Blog announced his appointment last week as "official White House law blogger,? my instant immediate reaction was 'wow, that's cool - I know that guy!'Mr...

Palin Panned by Times TV Critic

Posted on April 02, 2010
New York Times arts blogger Alessandra Stanley didn't think much of the debut of Sarah Palin's Fox News show, Real American Stories:Sarah Palin didn?t reload, she retreated into canned television formula... The stories were inspirational. The show was not...

"Repeal the Bill" Momentum Wanes

Posted on April 01, 2010
Some Republicans are now balking at advancing election promises to repeal newly-enacted U.S. health care legislation:Top Republicans are starting to worry about their health care rallying cry "Repeal the bill." It just might singe GOP candidates in November's elections, they fear, if voters begin to see benefits from the new law...

Althouse - A Contrary View on Criminal Charges Against School Bullies

Posted on April 01, 2010
University of Wisconsin law professor Ann Althouse checks in with a contrarian perspective on criminal charges pending against nine students, after a Massachusetts teenager's suicide was allegedly caused by school bullying:Of course, it's terrible when a young person commits suicide...

UK Granny Fined £1,000 For Selling Goldfish to Child

Posted on April 01, 2010
Via Raw Story:A British grandmother was heavily fined and electronically tagged for selling a goldfish to a child, triggering criticism Wednesday of over-zealous use of animal protection laws.Pet shop owner Joan Higgins, 66, was fined 1,000 pounds (1,500 dollars, 1,120 euros) also given a dusk-to-dawn curfew for selling an animal to a person under the age of 16, but her 47-year-old son Mark -- also ordered to do community service -- slammed the ruling as a farce...

Digital Due Process

Posted on March 31, 2010
WebPro News reports on a lobbying initiative by a coalition of leading U.S. corporations and organizations to convince America's Congress to modernize the country's outdated digital privacy laws.The excerpt below is from Chris Crum's article, Google, Microsoft Part of Coalition to Get Privacy Law Updated:A coalition that includes Google and Microsoft is aiming to get the Electronic Communications Privacy Act updated to reflect the needs of today's technologically fast-paced world, where much consumer and business data resides in the cloud...

20 Things To Do With Matzah

Posted on March 30, 2010
Happy Passover...- Garry J. Wise, Toronto Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net EMPLOYMENT LAW ? CIVIL LITIGATION ? WILLS AND ESTATES ? FAMILY LAW & DIVORCEORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

Domestic Terrorism

Posted on March 30, 2010
Andrew Sullivan, on the latest round of U.S. domestic terror arrests:Surely we can all assent to the notion that a Christian militia of the type now accused of planning domestic terrorism is not Christian. This is why I call them Christianist. Anyone planning to murder innocents by way of IEDs cannot plausibly call himself or herself a follower of Jesus of Nazareth...

Ruling: "Virtual" Law Offices May Not Satisfy N.J. Ethics Regulations

Posted on March 30, 2010
Virtual law offices have received much hype in some circles as the way of the future for legal practitioners. Some juridictions, however, maintain "brick and mortar" regulations that call the legality of such offices into question. Law.com reports today on a New Jersey decision holding that some forms of virtual offices do not comply with that state's ethical code:In an action that could affect large numbers of New Jersey practitioners, two court regulatory committees said on Friday that "virtual offices" staffed by receptionists who are mere answering services do not satisfy New Jersey's bona fide office rule...

Video - 40 Birds Play the Electric Guitar

Posted on March 27, 2010
Too crazy... enjoy the weekend:- Garry J. Wise, Toronto Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net EMPLOYMENT LAW ? CIVIL LITIGATION ? WILLS AND ESTATES ? FAMILY LAW & DIVORCEORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

Free Speech Wars - Here We Go Again

Posted on March 25, 2010
Frum - Canada's Free Speech Problem- Garry J. Wise, Toronto Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net EMPLOYMENT LAW ? CIVIL LITIGATION ? WILLS AND ESTATES ? FAMILY LAW & DIVORCEORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

On Health Care Reform, Sex Offenders and Viagra

Posted on March 25, 2010
The antics never end in Washington, D.C.Republicans were mighty busy Wednesday night, tabling proposed amendments to the health care reconciliation bill that is currently been debated in the Senate. The Democrats have made it known that all amendments will be defeated, as any change to the bill will derail their delicate health care reform agreement with the House...

Pirate Matzah

Posted on March 25, 2010
Passover alert from the holy land.- Garry J. Wise, Toronto Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net EMPLOYMENT LAW ? CIVIL LITIGATION ? WILLS AND ESTATES ? FAMILY LAW & DIVORCEORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

U.S. 'Democracy Restoration Act' Seeks to Reinstate Voting Rights of Felons on Release

Posted on March 23, 2010
Via Talk Left:The Democracy Restoration Act would restore federal voting rights to felons who have served their sentences. The bill was introduced last summer by Sen. Russ Feingold and Rep. John Conyers. The Judiciary Committee, Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill last week...

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