The Docket

Michael Spratt and Emilie Taman feed your brain and discuss the most burning political and legal issues. This week: dive into the unique issues that woman face in practicing criminal law, lament the correctional investigators report on Canada's deplorable jail conditions, and then talk about the latest unconstitutional marijuana law.

This week: Drugs, Sex, and Ice Holes. There are lots of questions about the Liberal government's position on pot. Yes we know - they are going to get to work legalizing it 'right away' - but right away may be longer than you think. And what happens in the mean time? The Liberal pot car - Bill Blair - acknowledges that over 22,000 people were arrested in 2014 over small amounts of pot and that a disproportionate number of these people were visible minorities and that prosecuting pot is expensive and that criminal records are of pot are harmful - but he refuses to take any action to mitigate these wrongs. We also talk about the insane history of the criminalization of homosexuality in Canada and one very tragic case. And finally we talk about some of the insane criminal laws on the books in Canada - keep your ice holes covered, don't steal oysters, and put away your comic books.

Ottawa lawyers Michael Spratt and Emilie Taman discuss Netflix super popular docu-series Making a Murderer one episode at a time. So, this is the end for now - Making a Murderer Season 2 anyone? Steven Avery may have found a new girlfriend but he has exhausted all his avenues of appeal and is now acting as his own lawyer. Brendan Dassey's case has moved to Federal Court where his awesome new lawyers Laura Nirider and Steven Drizin appear ready decimate the State on appeal. Oh and Ken Kratz is a sex addict. And with that we are done with the episode by episode Making A Murderer review - there will be more. You have not heard the last from Emilie Taman and Michael Spratt.

Ottawa lawyers Michael Spratt and Emilie Taman discuss Netflix super popular docu-series Making a Murderer one episode at a time. In episode 9 the focus of Making a Murderer shifts from Steven Avery to Brendan Dassey. The lawyers are different, the trial is different, the issues are different - but the result is sadly the same. Dassey's' trial focusses on his confession. Why would an innocent man confess to a crime he did not commit? The answer - the Reid technique - a police tool that is good at getting a confession, not the truth. Let's just say we are less than impressed.

Ottawa lawyers Michael Spratt and Emilie Taman and special guest Carissima Mathen discuss Netflix super popular docu-series Making a Murderer one episode at a time. So, Episode 8 is where Steven Avery is acquitted and all charges against Brandon are dropped - right? Oh yah - it is the exact opposite. This episode we are joined by Carissima Mathen - law professor at the University of Ottawa and an expert in the Constitution of Canada, criminal law and U.S. Constitutional Law. We chat about some Canadian/American differences - jurors can talk about deliberations? the judge's closing charge was 14 pages? And seriously - lawyers look so much cooler in vests, gowns, and tabs! Follow Carissima on twitter: @cmathen

Ottawa lawyers Michael Spratt and Emilie Taman discuss Netflix super popular docu-series Making a Murderer one episode at a time. Keys, Blood, and EDTA - Oh my! As Steven Avery's trial draws to a close the defence team points a spotlight on the police. Why was the Manitowoc police department involved in the search of the Avery residence given the conflict of interest? Why does the dynamic due of Lenk and Colborn keep finding importance evidence? How come no one in Manitowoc police department knows how to take notes? The prosecution is offended by the defences 'dastardly' tactics. Blood experts battle it out in court. Oh and also since when did it become appropriate to wear fake moustaches in court?

Ottawa lawyers Michael Spratt and Emilie Taman and special guest former Supreme Court judge and UN high commissioner Louise Arbour discuss Netflix super popular docu-series Making a Murderer one episode at a time. Canadian content! This episode we were lucky enough to chat with forensic anthropologist Scott Fairgrieve. Yep - Steven Avery's expert bone burning defence witness from episode 6! Dr. Fairgrieve is the Chair of the department of forensic science at Laurentian University; director of the forensic osteology laboratory; forensic anthropology consultant to the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario - in other words an expert. Fairgrieve went head to head with the prosecution expert Dr. Eisenberg and in our opinion won the logic battle. Fairgrieve dishes some inside info, comments on the US court system, and explains the science of a human body burns. A wholesome good time!

This week we were joined by Tony Spears and Matt Day to debrief on Making A Murderer Episode 6. Matt and Tony are both awesome reporters who have worked the court and crime beat in Ottawa. It turns out it was a great episode to have Tony and Matt drop by because the media played a huge role in episode 6. The press cross-examined the prosecution, dissected DNA evidence, and asked many of the questions that were on our minds. I mean lets face it - Episode 6 is the best. The defence destroys it in court, the prosecution does their best to prejudice Steven Avery through endless press conferences, and scientific experts battle it out under oath - how can that not be the best! So lets get to it.

This week - Bonus time - we skipped watching an episode today and decided to talk to Jerry Buting. Ya, the guy who the internet made into a Simpsons character - he was also one-half of Steven Avery's defence team. In other words a fearless, passionate, and super smart defence lawyer. So it was awesome to be able to talk with him. Jerry was fantastically accommodating and generous with his time - especially since we asked him for 15 minutes and then talked for almost an hour. Maybe Len Kachinsky next...... maybe not.

Alright! It’s time to sit back and talk about Episode 5 of Netflix's super popular docu-series Marking a Murderer. This week we are again joined by special guest, former Supreme Court of Canada judge and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour. And we finally get into the courtroom. The prosecution does a 180 on Brandon Dassey's evidence - despite the fact they have been trumpeting Dassey's statements as proof of Avery's guilt in public, in court (where it can actually be tested by the defence) the prosecution intends to bury it. After all, the damage to Avery's presumption of innocence has already been done. Meanwhile, the defence begins to sow the seeds of police misconduct that have the potential to call into question the entire investigation. The prosecution whines, the judge tries to shut down the defence and the wheels of a potential wrongful conviction really start to turn. Ugh!