Issue 2019-01: Introducing “The Observatory:”
There is an information gap about the field of military justice, with only occasional articles in the news media when there is a high-profile court martial or an announcement of a major event by the Minister of National Defence or the Judge Advocate General. This element of Canada’s legal matrix has largely escaped pubic attention, a consequence of its obscurity and general relevance to the Canadian public. (Read more)
Issue 2019-02: Summary Trials: “March the Guilty Bastard In”
Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law . . . Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — Section 15(1).
According to Canadian military doctrine, “summary trials are designed to deal with relatively minor service offences that are important for the maintenance of military discipline and efficiency at the unit level.” (Read more)
Issue 2019-03: Canadian military’s sexual misconduct crisis
Almost exactly four years ago, on April 30, 2015, retired Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps created national news when she submitted her report about sexual misconduct and sexual harassment in the Canadian Forces. Canadians could be forgiven for thinking that this was a newly-discovered situation.
Sadly, that isn’t the case. This is a persistent problem stretching back decades. (Read more)