The Friday Brief: Managing Editor’s must-read items from this week

Matthew Grace

Here are my picks for the top stories we published this week.

Women’s advocates, defence counsel call for transparency from judiciary on sexual assault law training for judges
Defence counsel and women’s advocates are both calling on Canada’s judicial leaders to disclose details of how the judicial branch educates its members to handle sexual assault prosecutions.

SCC to hear novel case on lawyers’ liability for client referrals that go bad
The Supreme Court of Canada has announced it will address for the first time the legal jeopardy and financial liability faced by lawyers when their referrals of clients to other service providers turn sour.

Lawyers laud proposed additions to Ontario Human Rights Code, but say more change needed
An Ontario MPP’s bid to expand human rights laws could mean “significant” protection for those with a police record or at a socioeconomic disadvantage, but would miss the mark when it comes to furthering safeguards for those needing to help family and other relations, lawyers say.

Corrections reform report draws cautious optimism from lawyers
The final report from Ontario’s independent corrections adviser, released Oct. 3, includes 62 recommendations to improve the prison system with human rights being the primary theme.

After Weinstein scandal, sexual harassment can no longer be seen as ‘cost of doing business’
In his column, Stuart Rudner writes: “While many organizations claim to reject harassment, the reality is that historically, many businesses (and even not-for-profit organizations) have allowed harassment and sexual harassment to continue if the perpetrator is someone with a significant value to the organization.”

Matthew Grace is the Managing Editor of The Lawyer's Daily.