Our client was involved in an early morning automobile accident with another vehicle. Police, the fire department, and paramedics all attended the scene. One police officer reported that our client was unsteady on her feet, that she smelled strongly of alcohol, that her eyes were glassy and unfocused, and that she was bleeding from the mouth. […]
The purpose of an investigation is to identify, gather, and preserve evidence of suspected offences, which may be used against a person in criminal proceedings. The investigation of an offence may be a matter of minutes or a matter of months. In simple impaired driving cases, the investigation may begin with a police officer’s observations […]
After 6 months of total despair, Mr. Johnston gave me my life back! He provided me with not only amazing and professional legal advise and services but he demonstrated such personal client care and attention to my every need. He went above and beyond in every aspect of my case from start to finish and […]
If someone is charged with an offence and if they wish to retain a lawyer to represent them, then they are expected to make the necessary arrangements to pay for that lawyer. In Ontario, individuals can fund their legal counsel in one or more of the following ways: Individuals are normally expected to pay legal […]
Our client and the complainant dated for several years, were married for a short period, had a son together, and then divorced. During that relationship, our client pleaded guilty to two instances of assault against the complainant and received discharges instead of convictions – in other words, he did not receive a criminal record. For […]
In Canada, the word “defence” can be used to refer to several different ideas in the criminal justice system. A person who is accused of an offence is sometimes called “the defendant” and their legal team can be referred to as “the defence.” The word “defence” is also used to refer to the legal strategy – “the defence” – […]
The Ministry of the Attorney General for Ontario announced today that three new judges have been appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa - the Honourable Justice Norman D. Boxall, a former defence lawyer, the Honourable Justice W. Vincent Clifford, a former defence lawyer, and the Honourable Justice Marlyse Dumel, a former prosecutor […]
An “offence” is a legal rule that imposes a penalty for doing something that is prohibited or for not doing something that is mandatory. In other words, it is a law that punishes someone for not following a rule. It is one of the many tools that governments use to regulate society and uphold values. […]
Earlier today, Michael A. Johnston was interviewed on Ottawa Today with Mark Sutcliffe at 1310 News. Michael discussed the Supreme Court of Canada's recent decision in R. v. Jordan, which changed the rules governing a defendant's right to a trial within a "reasonable time" under subsection 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Michael also discussed the Ontario […]
Our client's wife kicked him out of their home and started divorce proceedings. Almost immediately, she began making claims to the police about our client's apparently abusive behaviour against her, their young son, and her other children. When the police refused to lay charges, she went to a justice of the peace and started "peace […]
