Law Times

PAGE 16 Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com www The Inside Story OBA CELEBRATES LAW WEEK This year's Law Week celebra- tions followed the theme of justice, as the Ontario Bar Association continued its ef- forts to increase public aware- ness of the importance of the rule of law. "Law Day is a chance for members of the legal profession to give back to the community through educational programs that celebrate the freedoms that have been provided by the Char- ter and our justice system," said Law Day chairwoman Virginia MacLean. "We offer a variety of pro- grams that appeal to all age groups, including mock trials, photo contests, and the Phone- A-Lawyer program." While Law Day was cel- ebrated on April 17, a series of events, known as Law Week, took place from April 14 to 21. The OBA organized an open- ing ceremony, Grade 5 poster contest, photography contest, elementary school mock trial competition, secondary school mock trial competition, and a Charter challenge, on top of court tours and a citizenship ceremony. Also involved in organiz- ing the event is the Ontario Justice Education Network, Law Society of Upper Can- ada, and the Association of French Speaking Jurists of Ontario. It's funded by the Law Day partners, Ontario lawyers, ALERT, and the Law Foundation of Ontario. JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS Attorney General of Canada Rob Nicholson has announced a series of appointments to On- tario courts. Justice David Aston, a se- nior judge of the Family Court branch of the Superior Court of Justice, has been appointed to the Superior Court of Justice. He replaces Justice Paul Ri- vard, who has been transferred to North Bay. Justice Mary Jane Hatton, a Family Court judge in Oshawa, has been moved to that court's province-wide list of judges, re- placing Aston. man, a lawyer with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in Brampton, has been named a judge of the Superior Court of Justice for Ontario. She re- places Justice John Kennedy of London, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge. Justice Kelly Anne Gor- PROFESSOR NAMED TO OSC Osgoode Hall Law School pro- fessor Mary Condon has been appointed a commissioner of the Ontario Securities Com- mission. "I welcome the addition of the Mss. Condon and Kennedy as commissioners and board members," OSC chairman David Wilson said in a release, which included the announcement that chartered accountant Pau- lette Kennedy would also be- come a commissioner. tensive industry background and in-depth knowledge of securities regulation to the OSC." Condon teaches securities "Both individuals bring ex- regulation, advanced securities law, and corporate law. She's an expert in Canadian securities regulation and has conducted a number of consulting proj- ects for expert panels and task forces. MAN CLAIMS 'WOMBAT RAPE' CHANGED ACCENT AUCKLAND, New Zealand — First weird call from Arthur Cradock to the local police claimed he needed urgent help because he was being raped by a wombat, a marsupial not even native to New Zealand but found in neighbouring Austra- lia. Second call from Cradock, 48, to the cops a bit later reas- sures them he's doing fine now. "I'll retract the rape com- plaint from the wombat, be- cause he's pulled out. Apart from speaking Australian now, I'm pretty all right you know. I didn't hurt my bum at all." The cops went by anyway APRIL 21, 2008 / LAW TIMES Bizarre Briefs By Viola James ber took his booty to the bank for safekeeping, he handed it to the man from whom he'd ripped it off. While not realizing it at first, the banker handling the coins soon recognized them as a set worth $80,000 that had recently been lifted from his house. "I don't think the thief was expecting that," said a spokes- man for police in the city of Dortmund. Police soon tracked down the man and arrested him, along with a bonus collection of other stolen goodies. and arrested him. The po- lice prosecutor told a court last month that alcohol likely played a role in Cradock's wombat shenanigans. Cradock, from the South Island town of Motueka, pleaded guilty in Nelson Dis- trict Court to "using a phone for a fictitious purpose." (Is that like he was trying to call Xena Warrior Princess?) He's been sentenced to 75 hours' community work. In sentencing Cradock, Judge Richard Russell warned him not to do it again. Condon is a former member of the OSC's enforcement and continuous disclosure advisory committees. She currently serves on the York University Pen- sion Fund's board of trustees. LAWYER DISBARRED Richard Scott Michna of Brampton has had his licence to practise law revoked after being found by the Law Society of Upper Canada to have engaged in professional misconduct. Michna, who practised in WELL TAKE IT BACK THEN BERLIN — When one steals a collection of rare coins, the best place to keep them is ob- viously a bank. Sadly when one 36-year-old German rob- NO MORE JOKING FOR THIS JUDGE LOS ANGELES — Rather than face the tough justice of a discipline hearing, 21-year veteran judge James M. Brooks has decided to retire from the Orange County Superior Court. Brooks had a long history of misconduct and had been ad- monished for the second time in 18 months by the Califor- nia Commission on Judicial Performance. At a discipline hearing, he could have been forced from the bench. During the trial of an em- ployment law case in 2005, Brooks, among other things, flashed a hand-lettered sign reading "overruled" when plaintiffs' counsel made objec- tions. According to an appeal court, which ordered a new trial in the case because of the judicial misconduct, he "al- lowed, indeed helped create, a circus atmosphere, giving defendants' lawyer free rein to deride and make snide remarks at will and at the expense of plaintiffs and their lawyer." The commission also pre- viously disciplined Brooks in 1996 for making comments that reflect ethnic bias, and in 2003 for referring to par- ties in a case as "Nazis." In a medical malpractice case, an appeal court ordered a retrial after finding he had commit- ted misconduct. FIGHTING THE MAN! CANTON, Ohio — A group of local high school students risked giving up their Satur- days to detention in order to fight for their rights to wear flip-flops and saggy pants to school. Several McKinley High School students wore flip- flops to school despite the ban, claiming Canton City Schools went too far in January when it banned them, reported the Canton Repository. At a board of education meeting last week, sophomore Adam Makridis, 16, said he has had five Saturday deten- tions in recent weeks resulting from his protests over his right to bare toes. District officials said the ban was instituted for safety reasons. "I don't think we're asking for anything ridiculous," Ken Kendall, district safety and se- curity supervisor, said at the board meeting. "It's just that we feel comfortable saying that we think these are safety issues, and they are for your protection." Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@gmail .com LT Brampton and was called to the bar in 1979, also was ordered to pay the law society costs of $15,000 and reimburse the compensation fund $100,000. Michna was reprimanded fol- lowing a series of complaints, from the law society, LawPro, and three clients, according to the law society. 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