Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Legal counsel right does not extend to interrogation room: Supreme Court of Canada

HeartsOfFire · 10-08-2010, 04:21 PM

Hot off the press!

A deeply divided Supreme Court of Canada refused Friday to import U.S. “Miranda rights” to Canada, ruling that it would frustrate criminal investigations and slow down the justice system to impose a constitutional guarantee for suspects to have lawyers present during police interrogations.

The division? 5-4.

I, for one, am appalled. Given that the United States has the highest incarceration rates of any country in the free world, having an attorney present with you in the interrogation room shouldn't be a concern here in the Great White North. If it obviously doesn't make a difference down south, why would it be any different here?

I also believe that any detainee or suspect be fully granted all the Rights and Freedoms guaranteed to them under the Charter, even if they are suspect of criminal activity. But the truth is not everyone knows exactly what all their Rights are, which is why in my opinion, Legal counsel ought to be permitted.

Fortunately this means nothing in regards to the right to remain silent.

10-08-2010, 04:21 PM	#1
HeartsOfFire Lifetime Suspension Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bitter, jaded, cursing the fates. Exp:	Legal counsel right does not extend to interrogation room: Supreme Court of Canada Hot off the press! A deeply divided Supreme Court of Canada refused Friday to import U.S. “Miranda rights” to Canada, ruling that it would frustrate criminal investigations and slow down the justice system to impose a constitutional guarantee for suspects to have lawyers present during police interrogations. The division? 5-4. I, for one, am appalled. Given that the United States has the highest incarceration rates of any country in the free world, having an attorney present with you in the interrogation room shouldn't be a concern here in the Great White North. If it obviously doesn't make a difference down south, why would it be any different here? I also believe that any detainee or suspect be fully granted all the Rights and Freedoms guaranteed to them under the Charter, even if they are suspect of criminal activity. But the truth is not everyone knows exactly what all their Rights are, which is why in my opinion, Legal counsel ought to be permitted. Fortunately this means nothing in regards to the right to remain silent. Last edited by HeartsOfFire; 10-09-2010 at 09:55 AM.