Law Times

Page 16 January 13, 2014 • Law Times u The u Bizarre Briefs InsIde story By Viola James MAN SEEKS JAIL TO ESCAPE WIFE LIVORNO, Italy — While Canadian defence lawyers often seek conditional sentences for their clients as a more favourable outcome, one Italian criminal is arguing against house arrest. According to the Local, a 32-year-old Tunisian man has gone to police asking to serve the rest of his sentence in jail. He had been in jail for drug dealing, the Local reported. "Living with his wife was particularly difficult and unbearable," the Local quoted police in Livorno as saying. The man didn't have to put up much of a fight to get his wish. According to the Local, the court ordered him back to jail the same day. Police said the man was "tired of continuously fighting with his wife." JUDGE DENIES VIOLATION OVER MESSIAH ORDER COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — A judge is fighting allegations about her conduct over her order to change a baby's name to Martin from Messiah. According to WBIR, child support magistrate Lu Ann Ballew is defending herself in her response to charges by the board of judicial conduct. It alleges she acted illegally in ordering the parents to change the name. In her response, according to WBIR, Ballew maintained her position that Messiah is a title earned only by Jesus Christ. She denied violating the code of conduct. Last year, the parents of Messiah DeShawn Martin appeared before Ballew because they couldn't agree on the seven-month-old's last name. Ballew said the child would likely struggle with his given first name because he lives in Cocke County, a predominantly Christian area in eastern Tennessee. "It could put him at odds with a lot of people and, at this point, he has had no choice in what his name is," Ballew said. COCAINE SHIPPED TO BERLIN SUPERMARKETS BERLIN — Boxes filled with bananas and cocaine were delivered to five Berlin supermarkets in what police have called a "logistical error" by drug smugglers. Supermarket staff discovered the containers with a total of 140 kilograms of cocaine shortly before the fruit went on sale to the public, police and customs investigators said. It was the largest discovery of cocaine in Germany's capital in about 15 years and has an estimated black market value of 6 million euros, according to police. "We were of course surprised," senior police officer Olaf Schremm, who heads the local drug investigation department, told reporters. "I don't know where the mistake was in the perpetrators' delivery chain." The banana cartons, part of a consignment of 1,134 boxes, were brought by ship from Colombia to Hamburg and delivered to a fruit wholesaler in Berlin. Cocaine was found in seven of them, Schremm said. The boxes were eventually delivered to five supermarkets in the Berlin area, but investigators said the intended destination of the cocaine was unclear. Masked officers in bulletproof vests showed the seized boxes to media. The cocaine will be stored and eventually destroyed. Drugs are often smuggled in container ships from South America to Europe, the police said, adding it is very difficult to keep track of thousands of containers that are stored in the port of Hamburg for only a short time. "At the end of the day, it's beyond one's control," Schremm said. German authorities say drug smugglers use airmail or couriers to import cocaine more often than ships. In 2012, investigators seized 1.26 metric tonnes of cocaine in total. — Reuters LT "I am your career development officer and my advice to you is to climb that ladder." LAWYER APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL The government has appointed Toronto lawyer Vivian Bercovici as Canada's new ambassador to Israel. Bercovici, who had earlier practised with Heenan Blaikie LLP's Toronto business law group and more recently joined Dickinson Wright LLP, has an "excellent understanding" of Israeli issues, said Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. "Canada and Israel share a strong and multi-faceted relationship based on Vivian Bercovici shared values, common interests, and strong political, economic, cultural, and social ties," he added. "Having lived in Israel and written extensively on the region, Ms. Bercovici has an excellent understanding of the challenges facing the country and deep insight into the opportunities provided by the strong links between our two countries. "The government of Canada congratulates Ms. Bercovici on this appointment, and wishes her well in building upon this special relationship." Bercovici has in the past served as senior policy adviser to the Ontario minister of finance and chief negotiator on various claims made by First Nations against Canada. In March 2013, she joined the board of directors of CBC/Radio-Canada for a five-year term. FLIP YOUR WIG FOR JUSTICE Are you angry over the lack of access to justice in Canada? If so, you should flip your wig for justice, says a new campaign launched by Pro Bono Students Canada. The awareness campaign and pledge-based fundraising effort launched last week is asking the public and the legal community to show their support for equal justice by donning a traditional judicial or "wacky" wig on March 6. The campaign is urging organizations to match pledges raised by employees. To participate, register at flipyourwigforjustice.ca. NEW GLADUE COURT IN BRANTFORD A Gladue court designed to handle the cases of aboriginal people charged in criminal matters will open in Brantford, Ont., on Jan. 17. "Among other special features, Gladue courts take the findings of Gladue reports into consideration. These are reports on offenders' backgrounds, including circumstances unique to this community such as residential school experiences," according to Legal Aid Ontario, which says it played "an instrumental role" in the court's establishment. "In addition, Gladue courts propose sentences using a restorative justice approach that aligns with aboriginal culture and traditions." There are five other Gladue courts in Ontario. LAO says it will provide clients with services once the Brantford court begins hearing cases this month. NEW PARTNERS AT STIKEMAN ELLIOTT Stikeman Elliott LLP is welcoming new partners at three of its offices. Michael Kilby, who was an associate with the firm, is now a partner at the Toronto office. Kilby, who also did his articles at Stikeman Elliott, practises in the area of Canadian competition and foreign investment law. In Montreal, lawyer Vanessa Coiteux is the newest partner while securities and corporate finance lawyer Brad Squibb also joined the partnership in Calgary. POLL RESULTS The results of the latest Law Times online poll are in. According to the poll, 45 per cent of participants say 2014 is the year the legal profession should make a move on alternative business structures. Another 35 per cent of participants disagreed while the rest said it might be time to act on the issue but would prefer to see more study on it first. The poll follows a recent Canadian Bar Association report that suggested the jury is still out on whether alternative business structures would improve access to justice. LT Get more online lawtimesnews.com • canadianlawyermag.com Fresh Canadian legal news and analysis every day Canadian Lawyer | Law Times | 4Students | InHouse | Legal Feeds www.lawtimesnews.com Visit Us Online 1-8-5X.indd 1 2/28/11 2:37:34 PM

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