What: BCCLA at Supreme Court of Canada to intervene in C.P. v. Her Majesty the Queen to fight for youth right to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada in criminal cases
When: November 10, 2020 at 9:30 am EST / 6:30 am PST
Where: Supreme Court of Canada (Ottawa)
Ottawa, ON (Unceded Algonquin Anishnaabeg Territory) – On Tuesday, November 10, the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) will make oral arguments at the Supreme Court of Canada in C.P v. Her Majesty the Queen, a critical case about the rights of young people in the criminal justice system. The Court will determine whether the Youth Criminal Justice Act violates the Charter by denying young people an automatic right of appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in criminal cases. In some criminal cases, adults have an automatic right of appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. In contrast, young people must always seek the Court’s permission to appeal.
The BCCLA will argue that the Youth Criminal Justice Act violates s. 7 of the Charter because it is arbitrary, overbroad, and procedurally unfair. This law puts some of the most vulnerable members of our society, young people, at risk of being wrongfully convicted. The law fails to account for the unique vulnerability of youth and the serious consequences of a finding of guilt for a young person.
The BCCLA is represented by Alison M. Latimer of Alison M. Latimer, Barrister & Solicitor and Jessica Magonet of the BCCLA.
