Our crime panel looks at the fate of former federal judge Robin Camp, concerns over the Alberta government's plan to police pot and sentencing of youths who are convicted of murder.
- Why couldn’t you “keep your knees together”? It was those comments that landed former federal judge Robin Camp at the center of a Canadian Judicial Council inquiry. He resigned this year following after that and other questionable comments were made duruing a 2014 sexual assault trial. Last week, the Law Society of Alberta heard why Camp believe he should be able to practice law. Camp hopes to practice commercial, corporate or environmental law.
- Recently, the province of Alberta announced changes to impaired driving laws. Under the new legislation any driver found with 2-5 ng/ml of THC will face $1,000 fine. Any first time offender with THC limits over 5 ng/ml can expect a minimum $1,000 fine, the second offence would land them 30 days in jail and 120 days behind bars for a third offence. Calgary Criminal Defence Lawyer Ian Savage is raising questions around the constitutionality of the proposed legislation. He argues cannabis affects users differently, and without a reliable roadside test, the legislation could be subject to court challenges.
- Plus, a 17-year-old shot two brothers at a home before killing two teachers, and injuring seven others at a high school in La Loche, Saskatchewan. Now a Saskatchewan judge must decide whether he the then 17-year-old should serve the sentences for those murders as an adult. or a youth. A recent provision to the Criminal Code allows for a judge to impose consecutive life sentences and allow parole ineligibility of 25 years for each victim. However, the shooter's lawyer argues that provision can only be applied to adult offenders, not to youth offenders facing adult sentences.
Our panel guests include: Dino Bottos, defence lawyer; Mark Cherrington, youth justice advocate and Monetta Bailey from Ambrose University.
