JN204 Lecture Notes - Common Booster Core, Mount Cashel Orphanage, Willard Estey
Document Summary
The scc has adopted a wide definition of the charter guarantee of freedom of expression with respect to the role media play in our democracy. Media face little direct state intervention except for access to courts. Media play a valuable role in ensuring justice through public scrutiny. Because of the charter, the default is for courts to sit in the open. Only in certain circumstances, which often have to be argued or, can they sit in camera. Most importantly of, however open access to a public trial ensures that the outcome of that trial will be just. Limits on openness the medias tight to report on courts and citizens rights to attend court are not absolute and are often balanced against other rights. To ensure the justice can perform its job properly. Child witnesses in abuse cases may be frightened to testify in open court. Corporations may be reluctant to disclose financial or proprietary information in open court.