In the foreword of the Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters Report: A Roadmap for Change, Chief Justice McLachlin said, “the problem of access to justice is not a new one. As long as justice has existed, there have been those who struggled to access it… we [are] increasingly failing in our responsibility to provide a justice system that [is] accessible, responsive and citizen-focused...
Strange things have been happening at Osgoode lately. On February 5, 2014, Dean Sossin was seen wearing a funny wig at Osgoode. Then, an email was sent about becoming the Dean of Osgoode. And now this, Dean Sossin wearing a clown wig somewhere downtown Toronto?! Has Dean Sossin quit his job, ran away and joined the circus? Well no, do not panic. I am here to tell you that everything is fine. That...
Last February 11, Ontario’s Minister of Labour, the Honourable Yasir Naqvi attended Osgoode to give a special lecture on “Employment Law, Politics, and the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act”. As it turns out, the day before, the Obiter received an unexpected email with an invitation from the Minister’s Director of Communications to interview the Minister after the lecture. I...
To be honest, I am not a fan of football. I have tried getting into it, but I just do not have the attention span necessary to sit through even one entire game, let alone an entire season. In fact, being a true fan requires more than watching one’s favourite team play. One must also watch all the other teams play to know how they compare to one’s favourite team. The idea behind this...
And so a new year and a new semester have begun. Hopefully everyone had a fun but relaxing break. As promised, I did some leisure reading and finished watching season one of House of Cards (among other shows that I had neglected because of…well you know, law school). Surely, there is no need to describe the plot. Suffice to say that House of Cards is, generally put, a political drama. It is a...
And the countdown begins. A few days of classes remain. Then two weeks of sheer stress await. Of course, I am talking about exam-related stress, but only partially. There are the other kinds of stress, namely, Christmas-shopping stress. Naturally, as a busy law student, you will not have time to start until after exams are done. Panic will strike when you look at the list of people you have to...
Last year, before starting my first year of law school, I received from Osgoode information concerning my courses and the professors who were teaching them. I eagerly searched each of them on Osgoode’s website. I remember reading Professor Mandel’s bio and thinking how interestingly odd it was (odd in a good way of course). I am not able to recall the details and could not go back to the website...
I saw this Disney documentary once titled Earth (don’t judge me). It showed the long journeys elephants have to travel during the migration period some of them undertake. The particular herd being filmed went through hostile sand storms, days without water, infernal heat, and attacks from other animals. At one point one of the baby elephants is about to collapse. You see the mom trying...
CITLALLY MACIEL <News Editor> On September 23, 2013, an email was sent to the Osgoode community reporting that its Assistant Dean Stribopoulos had been appointed a Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. Justice Stribopoulos will join a number of other Osgoode alumni who have been appointed a magistrate position. Currently, one member of the Supreme Court of Canada is an...
CITLALLY MACIEL
<Staff Writer>
On the night of January 12, 2011, a police officer lost his life in the line of duty. His name was Ryan Russell, a devoted and exemplary officer, a loving father, a husband, and a son.
CITLALLY MACIEL
<Staff Writer>
As a law student, is there a case that you passionately like or dislike? Is there a case that stuck on you because you found it interesting, compelling, unjust or just plain boring?
CITLALLY MACIEL
<Staff Writer>
On February 20, 2013, a motion was carried to declare Toronto a “Sanctuary City.”
CITLALLY MACIEL
<Staff Writer>
The morning news caught my attention a few days ago. A report was on about the rescue of 50 dogs that were found in a house living in deplorable conditions in Palm Springs, California.
CITLALLY MACIEL
<Staff Writer>
What is it about Oprah that always makes people spill the beans to her? Indeed, this week we saw Lance Armstrong admit to Oprah that he used performance-enhancing drugs. Armstrong’s admission will of course unleash many aftereffects.
CITLALLY MACIEL
<Staff Writer>
A new year has arrived and with it feelings of renewal, inspiration and hope. This is resolutions time: learn another language, get in shape, lose weight, eat better, read more, drink less, go back to school, finish school, take a trip, or get a [good/better/exciting] job.
CITLALLY MACIEL
<Staff Writer>
Rejoice, my fellow James Bond fans! This year marks the golden anniversary of the first film’s release.
CITLALLY MACIEL
<Staff Writer>
The story of the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus’ parables which tells the story of a son who asks his father for his inheritance and then leaves and wastes it all. He then returns home and repents.
CITLALLY MACIEL <Staff Writer> According to the Law Society of Upper Canada, the goal of articling is “to provide law school graduates with orientation to the “real world” of the legal profession, assist them to understand the role of lawyers in representing clients and as officers of the court, provide guidance on the ethical responsibilities they must address as they navigate their way...
CITLALLY MACIEL <Contributor> What do a paparazzo and a gas station have in common? Well, if you have been attentive to the news lately, you may know that these refer to two events. Although seemingly different, they have brought about a series of legal questions and discussions back to the table. One is the issue of privacy, relating to some topless pictures of Kate Middleton. On the other...