Episode 108 – Keeping Up with the Courts

This episode the Intrepid Gang takes on four important national security trials that have been in the news and have important implications for national security law. First, we talk about the decision to revoke bail in the Ortis case and what this may say about where the trial is going. Next, it seems to be that a bifurcated system for evidence in the Huang case is causing endless delays – are the courts trying to find new solutions? Third, a guilty verdict was returned in the Sharif trial – but terrorism was never mentioned in the Court room. How does this compare to other recent terrorism charges? Fourth, rather than trying someone on financing charges in Canada, the government extradited Abdullahi to the US for a trial there. Is that because we are still bad at terrorism trials? Or maybe we just need to be more bold? (Programming note – a bit of distortion in this one as Leah was joining us from the literal floor of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre before briefing the Halifax Security Forum Fellows.)

Note for our audience – this episode was taped November 15. There have been further developments in the Huang case (the government is now using a security certificate to stop information being disclosed which they believe is injurious to national security) which we will discuss soon!

Stephanie Carvin