Constitutional law
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The Empirical Turn
In a post on the National Magazine’s blog, Kerri Froc discusses (among other things) what she refers to as “the empirical turn in Charter jurisprudence” ― the tendency of Courts to decide Charter cases on the basis of social science evidence instead of “expounding on the nature of human values embodied by rights.” Perhaps most recent… Continue reading
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Le visage de l’oppression
Dans une décision rendue hier, S.A.S. c. France, la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme a statué que l’interdiction du voile intégral par la France n’enfreint pas la garantie de liberté religieuse de la Convention européenne des droits l’homme. Bien que les juges majoritaires soient manifestement sceptiques d’au moins certains des arguments invoqués au soutien de l’interdiction, ils acceptent… Continue reading
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Mammon & Co.
I have already blogged about the question whether corporations can assert religious rights, for example to ask for exemptions from generally applicable laws if these laws contradict their ― or their owners’ ― religious beliefs. In a decision issued this morning, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, which Eugene Volokh summarizes here, the Supreme Court of… Continue reading
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The Mainville Appointment Is Constitutional
It’s taken me a long time to gather my thoughts on this, but here goes, half-baked though they still are. As everybody knows, Justice Robert Mainville, of the Federal Court of Appeal, has been appointed to the Québec Court of Appeal, and Rocco Galati, the lawyer who first challenged the appointment of Justice Marc Nadon… Continue reading
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Vote On
The CBC reports that Justice Robert Sharpe of the Ontario Court of Appeal denied the federal government’s application for a stay of the Superior Court’s decision in Frank v. Canada (Attorney-General), 2014 ONSC 907, invalidating the restrictions on expatriate voting in the Canada Elections Act, which the government is appealing. I blogged about the Superior Court’s… Continue reading
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Le festival harpérien de l’insconstitutionnalité se poursuit : la nomination du juge Mainville à la Cour d’appel du Québec
Le vendredi 13 juin 2014, l’hon. Robert Mainville, alors juge de la Cour d’appel fédérale, a été nommé juge de la Cour d’appel du Québec par le gouverneur général sur la recommandation du premier ministre fédéral. Contrairement à ce que, jusqu’ici, ont laissé entendre certains experts et chroniqueurs, cette nomination est à notre avis inconstitutionnelle.… Continue reading
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Strange Property
Last week, a Conservative Member of Parliament proposed a constitutional amendment that would protect (some) property rights in Alberta. The amendment would add a section to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, providing that In Alberta, everyone has the right not to be deprived, by any Act of the Legislative Assembly, or by any… Continue reading
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Just Ask?
DISCLAIMER: Judging by the amount of time it took me to write this post, it is likely to make no sense. But I’m too invested in it, at this point, to give up on it. The constitutionality of Bill C-36, the federal government’s proposed anti-prostitution legislation, is in serious doubt, and there have been calls… Continue reading
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Rights, Property… and Blogging
Because one blog is obviously not enough, I will now also be blogging for the CBA National Magazine. Initially at least, I will only be writing for them once a month. In any event, my main blogging focus will remain here, at Double Aspect. However, I am excited about this new venture and the possibility… Continue reading
Double Aspect 