Paul Alexander

I'm surprised to learn that we didn't have a prime minister in 2004.

When I was little, the U.S. military came to our home at gunpoint and took me and my family away. We were imprisoned for years in barbed wire camps simply because we were Japanese American. I have spent my life telling that story, hoping it would never be repeated.

And while my colleagues don't need me to speak for them, I'm sure they take on tough cases for the same reason we all do: they believe in the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial, which are the bedrock principles of a free and democratic society. 2/2

Heather Mallick does a disservice to the women of the criminal defence bar by implying that their male clients hire them for the optics. I'm proud to have learned from many of the brilliant women who are leading our profession. Their clients hire them because they are excellent lawyers.

A hearty congratulations to my friend and former colleague Emily Beaton, who was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice this week. We cut our teeth together as junior defence counsel at the same firm many years ago. She will be an outstanding jurist.
news.ontario.ca/en/bulletin/...

Birds singing in the trees; streetcars rumbling by; sun dappling the corners of Osgoode Hall. It's a beautiful morning at the Court of Appeal. Let's go.

Respondents emphasize that Abrego Garcia was improperly removed to El Sal- vador because, although he could be removed anywhere else in the world under a 2019 order of removal, that order granted statutory withholding of removal to El Sal- vador alone. But, while the United States concedes that removal to El Salvador was an administrative error, see App., infra, 60a, that does not license district courts to seize control over foreign relations, treat the Executive Branch as a subordinate dip- lomat, and demand that the United States let a member of a foreign terrorist organ- ization into America tonight. For starters, because MS-13 members such as Abrego Garcia have since been designated members of a foreign terrorist organization, they are no longer eligible for withholding of removal under 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3)(B). Fur- ther, the United States has ensured that aliens removed to CECOT in El Salvador will not be tortured, and it would not have removed any alien to El Salvador for such detention if doing so would violate its obligations under the Convention Against Tor- ture. Moreover, respondents treat the relief here as “routine,” Resp. C.A. Stay Opp. 1, but that relief goes far beyond merely facilitating an alien’s return, which is what courts have ordered in other cases. This order—and its demand to accomplish sensitive foreign negotiations post-haste, and effectuate Abrego Garcia’s return to- night—is unprecedented and indefensible.

If the Supreme Court decides that the government can "erroneously" disappear you off the street to a foreign torture prison, and that federal courts have no power to do anything about it, that is, in a meaningful way, Pretty Much It www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...

Yep, Ozymandias is telling the mighty to despair that they can't compete with him. But the poet is telling the mighty to despair that all of their wealth and power will mean nothing when they finally turn to dust, just as Ozymandias did.

Also: "the offering of one set of earlier trial dates essentially at the last minute does not require that defence counsel be available or risk having any consequent delay characterized as defence delay."

The court affirmed two helpful principles in a one-paragraph decision.

Ontario’s jails are deadlier than ever — and this one is ‘the worst in every respect’ Forty-six inmates died in Ontario provincial jails last year. More than a quarter of them were at Maplehurst Correctional Complex.

#StarInvestigation: Ontario’s jails are deadlier than ever — and this one is ‘the worst in every respect’

Forty-six inmates died in provincial jails last year. More than a quarter of them were at Maplehurst Correctional Complex.

Also, "the offering of one set of earlier trial dates essentially at the last minute does not require that defence counsel be available or risk having any consequent delay characterized as defence delay."

Disgusting Trump-style rhetoric from Poilievre. He should be condemned.

I visited this library a couple of years ago, but alas, I didn't see the bats. (It was daytime and they were asleep.) Would strongly recommend Portugal anyway.

There's so much to see that you can pick just about any country in Europe and wander around and have a wonderful time.

That said: Portugal is beautiful, laid back, and relatively affordable, with wonderful food and wine. Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Hungary, Austria, and the UK are also lovely.

Victory is mine! Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in all the land.

(Victory is *ours,* really. It was a delight to work with @chrisrudnicki.bsky.social on this appeal. Nothing like starting the weekend with a win.)