Constitutional: Published Comment in Chronicle-Herald Re: Constitutionality of Liquor Fees
Well, although I always cringe when a news article identifies me as an “expert” (lawyers are to refrain from any such classifications, except under unique circumstances), I suppose that I have been contacted in the past to issue expert opinions on matters involving Constitutional Law (also, I spent a decade teaching the subject).
Read moreConstitutional Law/Land Use Law: U.S. Supreme Court Case Update
I just learned that the U.S. Supreme Court will be in conference this Thursday, to consider the merits between accepting my client’s petition in Bee’s Auto v. City of Clermont. This is an exciting and consequential period: if at least four (4) Justices vote to accept the petition, we would be notified of a calendaring period for ora
Read moreElections Law: Comment on Revelations of Possible Voter Suppression on October 19
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/09/21/watch-out-for-dirty-voter-suppression-tricks-elections-canada-warns-staff_n_8168806.html In the above, linked article, Elections Canada is warning of voter suppression tactics being used against Canadians on the upcoming federal election day, October 19. This brings back lessons learned in Florida, f
Read moreElection Law: Quick Comment of U.S. & Canadian Elections
Campaign season is now under way in both my home and adopted countries. A couple of quick legal notes on what to expect, whether during the U.S.’s prolonged campaign, or during the “extended” 11-weeks of the campaign to control Canada. I will not dedicate time to partisanship. Certain, there are enough individuals well-engaged
Read moreUpdate on Lake Loon-Cherry Brook Community Centre Matter
February 25, 2015 / by joe chater / in Constitutional Law Matters, Halifax Law Articles, Land Use, Litigation
Well, at present, the historic Black-Canadian communities of Lake Loon and Cherry Brook will remain cautiously optimistic that a settlement can be brokered with the City of Halifax. At present, I do not feel at liberty to discuss in detail the scope of preexisting discussions. The fact that the sides continue to talk is good — howe
Read moreMedia: Protest Rally at Lake Loon Community Centre
I am pleased and honoured to serve as counsel for the Lake Loon-Cherry Brook Community Development Association, and its efforts to preserve the Lake Loon Community Centre. For those unaware, the Community Centre has been at the center of this historical, African-Canadian community for the past several decades. The land is owned by the community
Read moreHoliday Edition of Blog: Argentinian Court Grants Habeas Corpus to Orangutan
No, this is not the typical blog post on this Site. However, it was a noteworthy issue, raising images of U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas’ dissenting opinion in Sierra Club v. Morton, as well as an old episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. So, to start, an Argentinian court has granted a petition for a writ of habeas co
Read moreA Comment on Elections NS and Its Recommendation to Prevent Ballot Photos
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/elections-nova-scotia-recommends-law-preventing-ballot-pictures-1.2807107 Over the past 24 hours, CBC News reported that Elections Nova Scotia is attempting to push recommendations for the penalization of a voter taking a photograph of his/her own ballot. I find the justification for any such penal
Read moreConstitutional Law: Douglas Kendall Provides Insight into Potentially Catastrophic Right-Wing Judicial Takeover
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/doug-kendall/what-a-conservative-judic_b_1432795.html Be scared … be very scared …. Many of us worried when Janice Rogers Brown came up for nomination under GW Bush. Our fears are being realized. She sits on the second most powerful federal court (the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit), and had a ju
Read moreConstitutional: Comment on Day 3 of Oral Arguments on ACA
First, please examine this link: http://prospect.org/article/nine-circles-aca?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews. Credit to the American Prospect, an excellent publication which I have long enjoyed, and the author of this succinct piece, Garrett Epps. So, what do we glean from Day 3 of the oral arguments over the constitutionality of
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