Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · 13d

I don’t think entrapment means what you think it means. In the legal sense, entrapment is when a government agent induced a person to commit a crime they were not otherwise inclined to commit.

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · 20d

Please help support a brave woman. Today the Court of Appeal denied Bowie bail, saying the case was "overwhelming" and calling Bowie's defence "a conspiratorial narrative, with grandiose features, that was devoid of reality."

Read it: here coadecisions.ontariocourts.ca/coa/coa/en/i...)

Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 2

Today, disgraced Ottawa lawyer James Bowie is being sentenced for harassment and threats. He wanted to kill Leanne, who exposed him. Leanne showed incredible courage by coming forward. Now it’s time to help her rebuild her life. Stand with her today: gofund.me/e6a2b8dc

Donate to Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma, organized by Michael Spratt

Leanne’s life was shattered by the very person she thought sh… Michael Spratt needs your support for Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma

gofund.me

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · 21d

We’re going to hear lots about justice reform over the next few months. Cutting through the BS, and there is lots of BS, is difficult. Today I spoke with @globalnews.ca about why the Constitution matters and why we need to pump the breaks on the tough on crime rhetoric: youtu.be/7gLuYqvXZ88

Is bail reform in Canada possible within the Constitution?

YouTube video by Global News

youtu.be

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 6

Carney said those presumed legally innocent should not be in a position “where they commit a crime one day and they’re arrested and then out of jail, out on bail the next.”

Dont wory Mark, in Ottawa it usually takes days for a bail hearing, so we are good.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Carney will introduce legislation next month to tighten bail system

Prime Minister said goal is to ensure people accused of violent crimes such as gun offences, home invasions and auto thefts ‘pay the price they should’

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 6

Thanks Dale!

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 6

From me on self defence laws: The only thing most Canadians need protection from is politicians who think dishonest fear mongering for political gain is a form of public service: www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...

Castle laws won't fix what Ford and Poilievre claim is broken in self-defence rules

Heated rhetoric about charging man for stabbing home intruder ignores existing protections

www.canadianlawyermag.com

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Reposted by Michael Spratt

Marna Nightingale — ICE gets the skates. @marnanightingale.bsky.social · Sep 3

Donate if you can because FUCK THIS GUY.

Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 3

Yesterday James Bowie was sentenced to 4 years in prison. His victim, Leanne, showed remarkable courage by speaking out to warn others about this predator. Now we can help her rebuild her life with safety, dignity & hope. Please stand with her today: gofund.me/3b01402a

Donate to Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma, organized by Michael Spratt

Leanne’s life was shattered by the very person she thought sh… Michael Spratt needs your support for Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma

gofund.me

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 3

Yesterday James Bowie was sentenced to 4 years in prison. His victim, Leanne, showed remarkable courage by speaking out to warn others about this predator. Now we can help her rebuild her life with safety, dignity & hope. Please stand with her today: gofund.me/3b01402a

Donate to Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma, organized by Michael Spratt

Leanne’s life was shattered by the very person she thought sh… Michael Spratt needs your support for Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma

gofund.me

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 3

James Bowie has been sentenced to 4 years in prison. His victim, Leanne, showed remarkable courage by speaking out. Now we can help her rebuild her life with safety, dignity & hope. Please stand with her today: gofund.me/3b01402a

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 2

James Bowie has been sentenced to 4 years in prison. His victim, Leanne, showed remarkable courage by speaking out. Now we can help her rebuild her life with safety, dignity & hope. Please stand with her today: gofund.me/3b01402a

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 2

James Bowie has been sentenced to 4 years in prison. His victim, Leanne, showed remarkable courage by speaking out. Now we can help her rebuild her life with safety, dignity & hope. Please stand with her today: gofund.me/3b01402a

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 2

James Bowie has been sentenced to 4 years in prison. His victim, Leanne, showed remarkable courage by speaking out. Now we can help her rebuild her life with safety, dignity & hope. Please stand with her today: gofund.me/3b01402a

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 2

James Bowie has been sentenced to 4 years in prison. His victim, Leanne, showed remarkable courage by speaking out. Now we can help her rebuild her life with safety, dignity & hope. Please stand with her today: gofund.me/3b01402a

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Reposted by Michael Spratt

Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 2

Today, disgraced Ottawa lawyer James Bowie is being sentenced for harassment and threats. He wanted to kill Leanne, who exposed him. Leanne showed incredible courage by coming forward. Now it’s time to help her rebuild her life. Stand with her today: gofund.me/e6a2b8dc

Donate to Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma, organized by Michael Spratt

Leanne’s life was shattered by the very person she thought sh… Michael Spratt needs your support for Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma

gofund.me

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Sep 2

Today, disgraced Ottawa lawyer James Bowie is being sentenced for harassment and threats. He wanted to kill Leanne, who exposed him. Leanne showed incredible courage by coming forward. Now it’s time to help her rebuild her life. Stand with her today: gofund.me/e6a2b8dc

Donate to Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma, organized by Michael Spratt

Leanne’s life was shattered by the very person she thought sh… Michael Spratt needs your support for Help Leanne Rebuild After Unimaginable Betrayal and Trauma

gofund.me

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Reposted by Michael Spratt

Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · Jul 30

WATCH THE REST OF THE VIDEO (with comments from @mspratt.bsky.social and @paulchamplaw.bsky.social) HERE: youtu.be/mXPU915Z4ZQ?...

Conservatives under fire as 'Freedom Convoy' support taken as attack on judicial independence

YouTube video by Rachel Gilmore

youtu.be

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Reposted by Michael Spratt

Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Jun 27

Hurry up and wait. That’s the unofficial motto of Ontario’s criminal courts — and it’s breaking the system. My latest for Canadian Lawyer on inefficiency, inconsistency, and how scheduling a trial can take longer than actually holding one.

www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...

Hurry up and wait: The Ontario court's relentless commitment to inefficiency

Our criminal justice system has turned scheduling into a spectacle of wasted resources and hollow rituals

www.canadianlawyermag.com

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Jun 27

I also needed an excused to Quote Princess Leia...

Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Jun 27

Hurry up and wait. That’s the unofficial motto of Ontario’s criminal courts — and it’s breaking the system. My latest for Canadian Lawyer on inefficiency, inconsistency, and how scheduling a trial can take longer than actually holding one.

www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...

Hurry up and wait: The Ontario court's relentless commitment to inefficiency

Our criminal justice system has turned scheduling into a spectacle of wasted resources and hollow rituals

www.canadianlawyermag.com

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Jun 27

Real justice reform is hard. But untangling the procedural mess shouldn’t be. More rules haven’t made courts more efficient — they’ve made them more absurd. We can’t wait for change.

Read the piece: www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...

Hurry up and wait: The Ontario court's relentless commitment to inefficiency

Our criminal justice system has turned scheduling into a spectacle of wasted resources and hollow rituals

www.canadianlawyermag.com

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Jun 27

Why? Because of a hyperfixation on preventing delay — with new micromanaging rules, judge-led case management, and layers of red tape that somehow make everything slower. It’s bureaucracy cosplaying as progress.

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Jun 27

I spent an entire morning in court watching 3 trial dates and 2 pleas get scheduled — a process that involved 10+ people and consumed hours of precious court time. The result? A few calendar entries. Justice delayed by design.

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · Jun 27

Hurry up and wait. That’s the unofficial motto of Ontario’s criminal courts — and it’s breaking the system. My latest for Canadian Lawyer on inefficiency, inconsistency, and how scheduling a trial can take longer than actually holding one.

www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...

Hurry up and wait: The Ontario court's relentless commitment to inefficiency

Our criminal justice system has turned scheduling into a spectacle of wasted resources and hollow rituals

www.canadianlawyermag.com

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Reposted by Michael Spratt

Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · May 30

New from me: Doug Ford is back at it—using Orwellian-named laws to chip away at judicial independence. His new bill sounds like it’s about “safer streets,” but it’s really about tightening political control over the courts: www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...

Doug Ford's Trumpian obsession with judicial control should scare us all

The Ontario premier's folksy delivery conceals an authoritarian drift echoing global trends

www.canadianlawyermag.com

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · May 30

Judicial independence isn’t a luxury. It’s the last line of defense for fairness and the rule of law. Ford’s actions are a warning sign—and we ignore them at our peril.

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Michael Spratt @mspratt.bsky.social · May 30

Why does this matter? Because when politicians control the courts, they control the rules. This is how democracies start to rot—from the inside out. We’ve seen this movie before, south of the border.

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