Constitutional Law Mock Appeal Scenario: R. v. J. Intolerant

This resource, originally from OJEN’s 2006 Charter Challenge, deals with hate speech and freedom of expression. Mr. Joseph Intolerant sent a derogatory e-mail about a group of new immigrants to his friend, a member of a white supremacist group, who subsequently posted the e-mail on the group’s website. The e-mail was viewed by the RCMP […]

Landmark Case: School Searches and Privacy – R. v. M. (M.R.)

Each OJEN Landmark Case includes a case summary, classroom discussion questions and worksheets that encourage students to explore both the legal and societal importance of the case. This is a leading case from the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) dealing with search and seizure in Canadian schools. A vice-principal at a high school in Nova […]

In Brief: Legal Philosophy

OJEN In Brief resources are designed to provide high school students with an introduction to basic legal concepts. Each resource includes a short lesson plan for the teacher; a 1-4 page plain language description of the legal topic; and activities that provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge of the topic. This resource […]

Legal Foundations

OJEN is pleased to present a series of five related handouts designed to provide secondary students with an orientation to law as an academic discipline and a cornerstone of democratic society. Beginning with basic concepts like the rule of law and the nature of constitutionality, these become progressively more sophisticated, as students develop their understanding […]

Policing & Society

This 8-module resource provides strategies for dealing with a range of ideas, opinions and critiques about various approaches to policing. It includes interactive activities on the responsibilities of the police, police discretion and global policing systems. Students are encouraged to examine controversial aspects of policing, including perceptions of police, racial profiling and police oversight. Students […]

Landmark Case: Crown Duty to Disclose – R. v. Stinchcombe

Each OJEN Landmark Case includes a case summary, classroom discussion questions and worksheets that encourage students to explore both the legal and societal importance of the case. In R v Stinchcombe, the Supreme Court of Canada, in a unanimous decision, held that the Crown is under a duty to disclose to the defence all evidence […]

Landmark Case: Freedom of Expression, Wilful Promotion of Hatred, and the Charter – R. v. Keegstra

Each OJEN Landmark Case includes a case summary, classroom discussion questions and worksheets that encourage students to explore both the legal and societal importance of the case. Mr. Keegstra started teaching high school in the early 1970s in Eckville, Alberta. He had been a teacher in the town for about 10 years when he came […]

Landmark Case: Mandatory Minimum Sentence for Murder – R. v. Latimer

Each OJEN Landmark Case includes a case summary, classroom discussion questions and worksheets that encourage students to explore both the legal and societal importance of the case. R. v. Latimer is a landmark Canadian case dealing with mandatory minimum sentences for murder. Robert Latimer’s 12-year old daughter, Tracy, suffered from cerebral palsy which rendered her […]

Mock Bail Hearing Role Preparation Package

This resource outlines the differences between a bail hearing and a criminal trial and provides a detailed overview of key elements of the bail process beginning from the laying of a charge by police. It includes information about grounds for denying bail, bail conditions and variations, the role and responsibilities of sureties and special considerations […]

Landmark Case: Racial Profiling & Reasonable Apprehension of Bias – R. v. Brown

Each OJEN Landmark Case includes a case summary, classroom discussion questions and worksheets that encourage students to explore both the legal and societal importance of the case. On November 1, 1999, Constable Olson of the Metro Toronto Police stopped Decovan (Dee) Brown, a man of African-American descent and a professional basketball player, while he was […]

Landmark Case: Sniffer Dogs, School Searches, and the Charter: R. v. A.M.

Each OJEN Landmark Case includes a case summary, classroom discussion questions and worksheets that encourage students to explore both the legal and societal importance of the case. In 2002, the police accepted a standing invitation from a principle at a Sarnia, Ontario high school to bring sniffer dogs into the school to search for drugs. […]