Canadian Armchair Lawyers Take Note...

Tasha Kheiriddin: Supreme Court makes it official: Miranda and Canada don’t mix


So much for learning anything from Law and Order. In every episode, there’s the moment when the police start to interrogate a suspect, and the person’s lawyer bursts into the room and declares the interview over. The suspect then departs under the wing of counsel, usually bearing a wide smirk, and police and viewers gnash their teeth in frustration.

I say usually, because as it turns out, all those people aren’t as guilty as the L and O gang would have you assume at first blush. Otherwise, the dramatic tension of the show would drop to zero, and with it, its viewership (yes, I know the original series is ending, but there are still enough spin-offs on the air to satisfy its legions of faithful addicts fans).

But if you happen to land in a police interrogation room on the Canadian side of the border, don’t try to argue for your Miranda Rights. Up here, you don’t have them. In a split decision, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled today that detainees do not have the right to have a lawyer present throughout questioning by police. Read More »