al·leg'ed·ly LL.B.a tumblelog

The court’s decision to hear an appeal of a B.C. Court of Appeal ruling was made today by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, Madam Justice Rosalie Abella and Mr. Justice Marshall Rothstein.

The appellant in the case, known only as J.Z.S., was convicted in 2006 of sexually assaulting his son and daughter. The children were seven and 10 at the time of the offences. They were 11 and eight when they testified from behind a screen, after first promising to tell the truth.

The defendant argued unsuccessfully that the screening device violated his Charter right to a fair trial by preventing him from directly confronting his accusers.

In 2006, Ms. Routliffe reached retirement age and qualified for a full pension. She soon began pondering how she could collect her pension while still working in the Senate. She also realized that if she was fired from her job she could collect a hefty severance.

So she asked Mr. Kenny to fire her. He agreed and, on March 30, 2007, Mr. Kenny terminated Ms. Routliffe’s employment. “I didn’t want to fire her,” Mr. Kenny said in an interview. So why did he do it? “Well, she asked to be [fired].”

The Senate’s administrative office overturned the termination and ruled she had retired, thus disallowing the severance payment.