Publications
Helpful articles written by Mr. Stilman from Advocate Daily and other sources.
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OPP investigates Ontario Liberal government after document deletion complaint
Ontario’s Liberal government is facing another criminal investigation after a wind power company complained to police about the alleged destruction of documents in a lawsuit it filed against the province. …Read more
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Public awareness of police fallibility a game changer
Social media and smartphone technology have resulted in the rapid public dissemination of incidents of police misconduct and other law enforcement-related abuses. …Read more
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Dangerous offender designation is about public safety, not denunciation
A recent decision by Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General to not proceed with a Dangerous or Long Term Offender application against a high-profile sex offender will probably come as a surprise to much of the public. …Read more
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Liberals’ move to drop niqab ban a progressive sign
Toronto criminal lawyer Jacob Stilman says the Liberal government’s decision to abandon Ottawa’s legal pursuit of a ban on niqabs at citizenship swearing-in ceremonies is an indication that the new administration will be more respectful of Charter values. …Read more
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Judge complaint details should be made public
Toronto criminal lawyer Jacob Stilman is among those defence counsel taking issue with the way the Ontario Judicial Council hasn’t made public more details about a complaint against a judge, says Law Times. …Read more
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A.G. Ontario v. Kittiwake Sailboat: Civil Forfeiture hits a reef
A recent decision of the Superior Court of Ontario has thrown some much needed cold water on the Attorney General’s increasing abuse of the Civil Remedies Act, a particularly nasty piece of legislation that has bestowed broad powers upon the government to seize real property and chattels from individuals who are suspected of criminal activity. …Read more
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Gov’t niqab opposition undermines core Canadian freedoms
In yet another resounding defeat for the Conservatives, the Federal Court of Appeal in Ishaq v. Canada summarily dismissed an appeal by the government of the lower court decision that had declared unconstitutional the attempt by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to prohibit niqab-wearing women from taking the Oath of Citizenship. …Read more
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Cultural factors not mitigating on sentence
A recent decision of the Court of Appeal ought to put to rest, once and for all, any notion that cultural factors can serve to mitigate sentences in cases of domestic violence and sexual assault. …Read more
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Resource-strapped justice system dehumanizes people
Toronto criminal lawyer Jacob Stilman says the dehumanization of prisoners and people awaiting trial is a major problem and many would say the justice system needs an overhaul. …Read more
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New law on record-check information a good first step
When a new client comes to see me, despondent and dismayed to be facing the prospect of a criminal conviction, and seeking guidance as to how to navigate the rocky shoals of our criminal justice system, I often describe the process in these terms: …Read more