Law Times

PAGE 24 Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 Real Estate • Corporate • Estates www doprocess com The Confidential Inside Story CIVILITY IN THE PROFESSION With continuing calls for height- ened awareness of civility in the legal profession, The Advocates' Society has announced the cre- ation of the Institute for Civility & Professionalism. "The promotion of civility and professionalism has been a mission of The Advocates' Society since it was established more than 40 years ago," said society president Mi- chael Eizenga in a release. The society hopes that the de- velopment of the institute will bring the importance of civility in the profession to the forefront. The issue is one that has a major impact on members of the legal profession as well as the general public. The initial tasks of the institute are to develop a continuing legal education program, provide new members with pertinent informa- tion on civility, and an annual re- view of the society's curriculum to ensure that the educational objec- tives of civility and professionalism are being met. Associate Chief Justice of On- tario Dennis O'Connor has been selected to hold the position of honourary chairman. "Civility amongst those entrust- ed with the administration of jus- tice is central to its effectiveness and to the public's confidence in that system," commented O'Connor. "I am honoured to chair this im- portant undertaking launched by The Advocates' Society." HONOURARY DOCTORATES Several organizations will be pre- senting honourary doctorates dur- ing the spring season. The Law Society of Upper Canada will be honouring Car- leton University law professor Margaret Ogilvie with a doctor of laws. Ogilvie received the Or- der of Ontario earlier this year and will be presenting the keynote address to the group of 204 new lawyers being called to the bar. The faculty of law convoca- tion ceremony at the University of Windsor will include a presen- tation of an honourary doctor of laws to J. Douglas Lawson. Law- son is a community activist and a retired partner in McTague Law Firm LLP based out of Windsor. He is also a recipient of the Order of Ontario. SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CUSTODY REMANDS A recently released report on adult correctional services for Statistics Canada shows a significant in- crease in the proportion of adults remanded to custody over the report's 10-year period, covering 1996-97 to 2005-06. The total number of adults in custody has risen slightly, but the composition has changed. The re- port says that the number of adults remanded to custody awaiting trial or sentencing has risen by 22 per cent, while the number of adults admitted for sentenced custody de- clined by nearly 28 per cent. Of those adults remanded, the length of time they spend in cus- tody has also increased. During the initial study period, 38 per cent of adults spent more than one week in custody. The 2005-06 figures show that 46 per cent are over the one- week time frame. The study cites several factors that may be contributing to the increases, including changes in sen- tencing laws and the length of time in takes to process a case. XCOPPER BANKRUPTCY The Law Society of Upper Cana- da has issued a release advising the public of an assignment in bank- ruptcy filed by XCOPPER Inc. Grant Thornton Ltd. has been appointed to act as the trustee by the official receiver, pending any objections by the creditors. The assignment was filed on May 28. According to the notice, the first meeting of creditors is scheduled to be held on June 16. The LSUC is advising clients of XCOPPER who feel that the bankruptcy will negatively affect their business dealings to contact them for assistance. LT STG_05_LT_BaseBar 8/16/06 8:52 AM Page 1 For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. "Look! . . . the next one of you clowns who asks; 'to see the driving licensee,' I swear to God I'll whack with my Blackberry." At Stewart Title, it's how we work that sets us apart. We deal in title insurance and related products, undertaking no part of the transaction that has traditionally fallen to legal professionals. Since our inception into the Canadian market, you will find that we have consistently combined comprehensive coverage with unparalleled support for legal professionals. We are dedicated to streamlining your practice and increasing your revenue through our programs and innovative technology solutions. At Stewart Title, we know it's our relationship with our customers that determines our success. That's why service is the foundation of our business and integrity, the keystone in all our dealings. Contact us today at (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. www.lawtimesnews.com SUDOKU PLAYERS SCUTTLE TRIAL SYDNEY, Australia — The case had already been going for 66 days and has cost taxpayers about AU$1 million, but that didn't hold back an Australian judge from aborting a trial after finding out jurors were doing Sudoku puzzles instead of paying attention to the evidence. A courtroom observer alerted Sydney District Court Judge Pe- ter Zahra to the fact some jurors seemed to be writing vertically. Zahra asked what they were doing and it came out that four or five jurors had been playing games for at least half the time of the trial. "Yes, it helps me keep my mind busy paying more atten- tion," the jury foreman told the judge. "Some of the evidence is rather drawn out and I find it difficult to maintain my atten- tion the whole time, and that doesn't distract me too much from proceedings." Jurors, however, are anony- mous and so they'll face no pun- ishment or penalties for their er- rant behaviour. The judge decided to abort the trial and order a new one, cit- ing fairness to the defendants. SENTENCING GETS HEATED LANCASTER, Pa. — A man facing sentencing for a drunk driving conviction may have got- ten a taste of what's to come after JUNE 16, 2008 / LAW TIMES Bizarre Briefs By Viola James walking some 40 kilometres to a court appearance. When Stephen Shoemaker didn't show up in court by 3:30 p.m. for a 9:30 a.m. appear- ance, Judge Edward Guido said he had to issue an arrest war- rant, reports WGAL-TV. But Guido eased up and delayed the sentencing until next month after learning that Shoemaker had taken the old heel-toe express in 90-degree heat to make the court date. The man even needed a stop at a local medical centre to treat a case of dehydration. A public defender said he of- fered to drive Shoemaker home. CARTOON CONTROVERSY LONDON — A man claims that a T-shirt depicting the car- toon robot villain Megatron almost grounded him at Heath- row Airport's terminal five. Brad Jayakody, a 30-year- old Transformers fan, tells The Daily Mail that he was leaving for a business trip in Germany when a security guard started chatting with him about his T- shirt, which showed the cartoon character holding a gun. "Then he explains that since Megatron is holding a gun, I'm not allowed to fly," said Jayakody, who also claims the guard told him to change the shirt or face an arrest. "There is no way this shirt is offensive in any way, and what, I'm going to use the shirt to pretend I have a gun?" said Jayakody, who elected for a wardrobe change. A spokesman for the airport operator said Jayakody's allega- tions are being investigated. SORRY, SUCKER BELGRADE, Serbia — A bank clerk was arrested after calling police to see how much longer it would take them to arrest him for stealing 1.5 million euros. Reuters reports that Aleksan- dar Spasic also left a note that said "I'm sorry" before moving on to bury the cash in a park. Then he took a seat at a local café, from where he called the cops. "I'm sorry, but I had to do it," Spasic, who had walked out of the Raiffeisen branch office in the town of Kragujevac with the loot stuffed into his briefcase, said in the note left for his boss. Police found the money bur- ied in several holes at a park. They were unsure of Spasic's motive. JUNK TV KINGSTON, Ont. — A 13-year-old Kingston boy was charged with mischief under $5,000 after his mom reported a hissy fit that left the family TV damaged beyond repair. The mother and son got into a spat after she woke him up and told him to get ready for school, the Canadian Press reports. He responded by walking to the liv- ing room and punching the 37- inch LCD TV, which was worth $1,000. Police arrested the boy and laid the charge after his mother called police. LT

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