Resources for High School Law and Civics Teachers

Resources for High School Law and Civics Teachers Internet Resources, Texts and Magazines for Law, Process, Education and Access to Law Information from Ontario, Canada and International Sources Many law-related resources are available for teachers. What follows is a selected list of links, texts and magazines that may be of assistance. Following each resource is a short synopsis outlining what the resource is and how it might be helpful. Resources that may be of particular value to teachers are noted with a (*) before the title. Materials related to federal matters (such as immigration) are useful for Ontario students. However, materials related to issues that fall under other provincial or international jurisdictions are useful for comparison but may not accurately reflect Ontario legislation or jurisprudence. General Accès Justice http://accesjustice.ca/ Promotes access to justice in both of Canada s official languages, but particularly oriented towards providing resources in French. ContainsF documents in English and French regarding jurisprudence, legislation, and legal history. *The Access to Justice Network http://www.acjnet.org/splash/default.aspx An electronic community that brings together people, information, and educational resources on justice and legal issues of interest to Canadians. ACJNet is a nationwide service dedicated to making law and justice resources available to all Canadians in either official language. Includes a Resource Centre with Lesson Plans and Mock Trials. http://www.acjnet.org/youthfaq/index.html Site is maintained by ACJNet and provides a list of "frequently asked questions" - FAQs - and their answers for students. The FAQs include topic areas Criminal Code,

2 Alternative Dispute Resolution, Divorce, Hate Crime, Joyriding, Jury, Labour, Prison, Privacy, Shoplifting, Stalking, Travel, Youth Criminal Justice Act. Canadian Bar Association http://www.cba.org/gate.asp The CBA site includes a useful public legal education section with an extensive list of law-related links. Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) http://www.ccla.org Site contains the electronic copy of the booklet, "The Fundamentals O f Our Fundamental Freedoms" as well as information about the CCLA s schools program. Canadian Judicial Council http://www.cjc-ccm.gc.ca Provides information about the Canadian Judicial Council, the Judges' Act, and complaints, process of judicial appointment, salaries, ethics and the differences between federally appointed and provincially appointed judges. Includes a list of Council publications, with a variety of pamphlets and books on the conduct, role, ethics and independence of judges. *Canadian Superior Judges' Association: Try Judging http://www.tryjudging.ca Try Judging is an interactive multimedia educational program for high school social studies, civics and law courses, and designed for integration into Canadian school curricula. Developed by the Canadian Superior Court Judges' Association, Try Judging introduces students to the role of judges within our judicial system, and encourages exploration of important concepts such as the rule of law, judicial independence and judicial impartiality. Try Judging has three components a teachers guide, a resource website for teachers and an online interactive program for students. The program is built around five guiding questions that lead students through case scenarios and issues associated with the role of judges in Canada s judicial system. *Classroom Connections http://www.classroomconnections.ca/ Develops and distributes free educational resources suitable for various grade levels. Secondary resources include Strangers Becoming Us, which deals with issues surrounding immigration and multiculturalism, and Cultivating Peace, a resource series which encourages youth to recognize injustice and confront conflict using nonviolent means. Modules include such elements as Teacher s Guides, audio CDs and videos, posters, and student guides to action. Ordering information available on the website. CLEONet http://www.cleonet.ca/ CLEONet is an online clearinghouse for community legal education in Ontario and is a project of Community Legal Education Ontario. CLEONet is for organizations that produce, use, or need community legal education materials.

3 Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) http://www.cleo.on.ca CLEO is a community legal clinic that produces clear language material for people with low incomes. A list and order form for all of CLEO's materials are provided on-line (publications are free of charge). They also maintain a resource library of materials produced by others. Main topics include social assistance, landlord and tenant law, refugee and immigration law, worker's compensation, women's issues, family law, employment, insurance and human rights. Consolidated Statutes and Regulations/ Federal and Provincial http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/index.html A database of Canadian laws from the federal Department of Justice. Allows users to access federal statutes, including a list of the most frequently accessed statutes. http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca Provides access to the consolidated laws of Ontario. Information concerning specific statutes and regulations as well as reference tables containing recent changes in the law. http://www.canlii.org Maintained by the Canadian Legal Information Institute, this site provides access to statutes and regulations from each of Canada's provincial, territorial and federal jurisdictions as well as decisions from various levels of courts and some tribunals. *CourtPrep http://www.courtprep.ca An interactive, educational resource about the justice process in Canada, this site is designed and developed by youth for youth who are preparing to testify in court. Features information on the Courtroom, Witness Tips and the Justice Process, and includes definitions and games. Department of Justice Canada http://www.canada.justice.gc.ca Official site of the Department of Justice Canada. Its index includes "Canada's System of Justice" and "Canada's Court System". Site also explains how legislation is developed and passed by Parliament and the role of citizens in developing, amending and modifying laws and regulations. Outlines the responsibilities of federal versus provincial governments and courts, and provides information on all Department of Justice initiatives. Includes links to the court system, the laws of Canada, and many relevant reports and statistics. Also has an interesting "Pursuit of Justice" quiz. http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/c-46/index.html (English) http://lois.justice.gc.ca/fr/c-46/index.html (French) Title page of the Criminal Code. From this location, visitors can link to the full text of the entire Code. The page also provides links to the text of other laws.

4 Duhaime's Law Dictionary http://www.duhaime.org/diction.htm Legal concepts and terms explained at your fingertips. Guide to Ontario Courts http://www.ontariocourts.on.ca Includes information on the three courts of Ontario - Court of Appeal, the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. Also includes information about the Ontario Judicial Council, the process of appointment of judges, and links to other relevant sites. Ipperwash Inquiry http://www.ipperwashinquiry.ca/ This site contains contextual documents regarding the Ipperwash Inquiry and First Nations peoples (cultural contexts, Treaty rights, in relation to the Criminal Justice System, governmental and police relations), media releases, a FAQs page, and transcripts of the Commissioner s opening remarks and statements on the progress of the inquiry and evidentiary hearings. A live webcast of the inquiry can be viewed from the page when in session. Law Commission of Canada http://www.lcc.gc.ca Allows access to discussion documents, studies, and reports from this independent federal law reform agency that advises Parliament on how to improve and modernize Canada's laws. The Commission's work is structured around the following four themes: Personal Relationships, Social Relationships, Economic Relationships, and Governance Relationships. Law Society of Upper Canada Colloquia on Professionalism and the Administration of Justice http://www.lsuc.on.ca/news/a/hottopics/committee-on-professionalism/ Links to papers given at bi-annual colloquia on professionalism in the administration of justice. Includes the text of papers given by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin (Supreme Court of Canada), Justice Louise Charron (Supreme Court of Canada), and Chief Justice R. Roy McMurtry (Ontario Court of Appeal), and numerous other academics and legal professionals. Topics include cultural and ethical issues related to the administration of justice, the particularities of the Canadian justice system, regional issues, Aboriginal justice and challenges faced by lawyers. Legal Line Information http://www.legalline.ca Site contains general information and Frequently Asked Questions on many areas of law although not all subjects are complete or up-to-date. Resources link to useful addresses of government and non-government agencies. LexUM http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/index_en.html

5 Site for researchers at the University of Montreal dedicated to implementing new information technologies in the dissemination of legal materials. Contains many useful links and access to French language resources. Medico-Legal Society of Toronto http://www.mlst.ca/ Focuses on the relationship between the medical and legal professions and issues that concern both medicine and the law. Contains articles and reports that address error and death investigations, the legal framework for the practice of medicine in Ontario, and legal and ethical considerations. *Métis Law Summary http://www.metisnation.org/harvesting/powley/docs/mls-2004.pdf A comprehensive introduction to Métis law issues written and updated annually by Jean Teillet, counsel for the Powely family in R v. Powley (Métis hunting rights case). Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca The site of Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General. Outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Attorney General and provides a number of resources such as "The Parental Responsibility Act - Recovering Losses in Small Claims Court" - a brochure outlining parents' obligations for damages caused by their children, and guides to the procedure of small claims and family courts, being a witness in a criminal trial, and other topics. Includes the Crown Policy Manual and the Boyd Report. The Crown Policy Manual http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/crim/cpm/default.asp Dispute Resolution in Family Law: Protecting Choice, Promoting Inclusion (the Boyd Report) http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/boyd/ *Ontario Bar Association http://www.oba.org/en/lawday/lawday_en Includes information on the OBA and its Law Day/Law Week activities including poster, photo, and website competitions, and mock trial tournaments. * OBA Mock Trial Cases http://www.oba.org/en/lawday/lawday_en/previous_cases.aspx Copies of cases used in previous Ontario Bar Association mock trial tournaments are available here. Ontario History & Social Science Teachers' Association http://www.ohassta.org A voluntary organization that promotes the teaching of History in elementary schools and History and Social Sciences in secondary schools.

6 Roots of Empathy http://www.rootsofempathy.org Roots of Empathy is an innovative classroom-based parenting program that aims to reduce aggression through the fostering of empathy and emotional literacy. The program reaches children aged 3 to 14 years. The heart of the program is a neighbourhood infant and parent who visit the classroom once a month for the full school year. *Statistics Canada http://www.statcan.ca Presents statistics on population, resources, economy, society and culture. Many are relevant to law courses, including statistics on crimes, victims and suspects, and the police. Supreme Court of Canada http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca The website of Canada's highest court. Links to Supreme Court of Canada judgments. Magazines Decisis: The Journal for Teachers of Canadian Law Funded by The Law Foundation of Ontario, Decisis is published by Spetz Publishing ten times per year and features case summaries and commentary. Each issue has a "Test Yourself" case that can be used to supplement classroom activities. For this and other publications (see below), contact Spetz Publishing Ltd., 630 Graceland Avenue, Kingston, Ontario K7M 7P7 or email sgspetz@kos.ca Also from Spetz Publishing: Judicis: Case Problems in Canadian Law Kingston (Spetz Publising Ltd). A series of eight case problems relevant to law courses across Canada. Topics include Discrimination, Homicide, Parties to Offence, Hearsay Evidence, Defences, Negligence, Estates, and Social Host Liability. Suitable for individual or group work, moot courts and classroom debates. The Law Student s Workbench: A Comprehensive Canadian Law Workbook Kingston (Spetz Publising Ltd). Contains 104 pages of true-false, multiple choice, short answer and case questions regarding significant topics found in law courses across Canada. Suitable for assignments, tests, warm-up exercises and make-up work. It is intended that the teacher reproduce The Law Student s Workbench for student use. Topics include Our Legal System, Human Rights The Charter, Introduction to Criminal Law, Criminal Offences, Criminal Defences Evidence, Torts, Contracts, and Family Law Estates.

7 The Law Enrichment Program: A Program to Enhance Legal Literacy Kingston (Spetz Publising Ltd). Comprised of explanatory modules on major topics found in Canadian law courses, including extensive questions and a case problem. To be reproduced and used in part or whole. Suitable for grade 11 or higher. Modules are ordered separately and include Introduction to Human Rights, Understanding Rights and Freedoms, Introduction to Criminal Law, Criminal Offences, Tort Law, Negligence, Contract Law, and Our Legal System. Law Now http://www.lawnow.org Featured articles provide commentary and news coverage of various aspects of legal history, jurisprudence and current case law. Sample articles and ordering information are available on line. Extra-Provincial and International Jurisdictions Federal legislation and the decisions of federal courts are binding throughout Canada, for example the Immigration Act and Youth Criminal Justice Act. The laws of other provinces and extra-provincial court decisions are not binding in Ontario. American Bar Association Public Education http://www.abanet.org/publiced/home.html The American Bar Association's (ABA) public legal education division website that includes information on the US Supreme Court, lawyers and judges and how the American court system works. *The Courts of Nova Scotia http://www.courts.ns.ca/ Comprehensive overview of the various levels of the Nova Scotia justice system. The Virtual Courtroom resource summarizes Canada s criminal justice procedures. *The Law Connection http://www.lawconnection.ca A site where teachers can learn to incorporate legal concepts and principles into their classroom teaching, and students can access information about the law. Includes lesson plans, legal updates, and a list of supplemental resources. Based in British Columbia, the site includes federal laws and Supreme Court of Canada decisions as well as materials relating to British Columbia laws. Resources include the Legal Beagle, who answers your legal questions by email.

8 *Law Courts Education Society of BC http://www.lawcourtsed.ca Helpful books, pamphlets, videos, charts, and curriculum can be ordered from this site. * Legal Canadian FAQs http://www.law-faqs.org Questions and answers developed by the Legal Studies Program at the University of Alberta. The Frequently Asked Questions are comprehensive, covering many areas of law and legal issues. Both federal laws and Alberta provincial laws are included. The questions were answered according to the law at the time the questions were prepared - the site does not claim to be current. Jurist/Canada - A Legal Education Network http://jurist.law.utoronto.ca Jurist is directed by Professor Bernard Hibbets (a Canadian trained lawyer who is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law). The site contains useful information on Canadian legal news, research, and teaching of law as well as information about court systems and laws worldwide. Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan http://www.plea.org Free brochures on a variety of legal issues and topics that includes federal law as well as Saskatchewan provincial law. US Supreme Court Decisions http://www.findlaw.com Provides information on the US Supreme Court and its recent decisions. Links to other US jurisdictions. The Western Canada Society to Access Justice http://www.accessjustice.ca/ Society that provides legal services pro bono. Includes a scenario following Mike, who has been falsely accused of theft, through his visit to Access Justice and resolution with his accuser. Texts Mock Trial Scripts and How-To Guides American Bar Association Division for Public Education For grades K through 12, provides everything necessary to put together your own mock trials. Ordering information can be found at: http://www.abanet.org/publiced/mocktrials.html.

9 Youth and the Law *CourtPrep http://www.courtprep.ca An interactive, educational resource about the justice process in Canada, this site is designed and developed by youth for youth who are preparing to testify in court. Features information on the Courtroom, Witness Tips and the Justice Process, and includes definitions and games. Justice for Children and Youth (Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law) http://www.jfcy.org The organization provides legal representation to low-income children and youth in Toronto and vicinity. It is a community legal clinic specializing in protecting the rights of those facing conflicts with the legal system, education, social service or mental health systems. The site has numerous publications and briefs on legal issues concerning children and includes an "ask the lawyer" service. Site provides information on issues such as Leaving Home, School, The Young Offender's Act, Police, Age Based Rights, Peer Mediation as well as an "ask a lawyer a question" section. Toronto Child Abuse Centre http://www.tcac.on.ca Provides information directed at children who are testifying in abuse cases. Includes information on the roles of persons in the courtroom (basic level) including judges. Youth Criminal Justice Act http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/y-1.5/ Text of the Youth Criminal Justice Act on the web. Online Chat Rooms *epals: Classroom Exchange http://www.epals.com An on-line classroom community for teachers and students. Issues and ideas can be debated and discussed. *The Great Young Offenders Act Debate http://www.lawyers.ca/tgyad/ Discussion board where people, primarily high school students, can debate various issues about the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the Young Offenders Act.

10 Legal Education for Children *Cory s Courthouse http://www.tcac.on.ca/courthouse/ Site is designed to help children understand how the legal system works and what would be involved should they be called upon to participate in a case. Cory the Court Dog acts as a guide through the site. Texts Let s Talk About Law In Elementary School edited by Wanda Cassidy and Ruth Yates, 1998 Detselig Enterprises Ltd. Once Upon a Crime: Using Stories, Simulations and Mock Trials to Explore Justice and Citizenship in Elementary School by Wanda Cassidy and Ruth Yates, 2005 Detselig Enterprises Ltd. Charter of Rights & Human Rights Legislation The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/charter/index.html The text of the Charter on the web. Canadian Charter of Rights Decisions Digest http://www.canlii.org/ca/com/chart Each section of the Charter is explained with the relevant case law and judicial interpretation. Duhaime's Canadian Human Rights Centre http://www.duhaime.org An organized, easy-to-navigate set of links. Sections are Legislation, Tribunals and Agencies, Articles, and Earliest Human Rights Documents. *Ontario Human Rights Commission http://www.ohrc.on.ca/ General information website with a link to an educational package called "Teaching Human Rights in Ontario." The package was specifically designed for use in the Grade 11 Law course.

11 Texts Canadian Constitutional Documents Consolidated edited by Bernard W. Funston and Eugene Meehan 1994 Carswell. Canadian Constitutional Law, Third Edition, by The Constitutional Law Group: Joel Bakan, John Borrows, Sujit Choudhry, Robin Elliot, Jean-Francois Gaudreault-Desbiens, Donna Greschner, Patricia Hughes, Jean Leclair, Patrick Macklem, Richard Moon, R.C.B. Risk, Kent Roach, Carol Rogerson, Bruce Ryder, David Schneiderman, and Lorraine Weinrib 2002 Emond Montgomery Publications Limited. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms (2nd edition) by the Hon. Robert J. Sharpe, the Hon. Katherine Swinton, Kent Roach 2002 Irwin Law. Criminal Law Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies http://www.elizabethfry.ca Elizabeth Fry Societies work with, and on behalf of, women involved with the justice system, particularly women in conflict with the law. The website offers numerous issue papers and reports. Canadian Criminal Justice Resource Page http://members.tripod.com/~bluethingy/index.html This page compiles links to sites dealing with criminal justice, corrections and life inside a prison, restorative justice, crime prevention, victims of crime, juvenile delinquency, and law enforcement. *Correctional Services Canada http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca Governmental agency website that has a Public Education section that includes a Speakers' Kit, statistics, myths and realities, and a teacher's guide with a lesson plan. Duhaime's Canadian Criminal Law Centre http://www.duhaime.org/criminal/ Plain language articles on Canadian criminal law with an expansive list of topics. *John Howard Society of Canada http://www.johnhoward.ca/start.htm The Society is an organization governed by people whose goal is to understand and respond to problems of crime and the criminal justice system. The mission is "effective, just and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime." Lesson plans, publications, and position papers are available on the site.

12 National Crime Prevention Centre http://www.prevention.gc.ca/en The organization that is responsible for implementing the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention. Links to on-line publications and public education team members. Ontario Parole and Earned Release Board http://www.operb.gov.on.ca Includes an organizational chart and a variety of facts, figures and statistics. Texts Criminal Law, Third Edition, by Kent Roach 2004 Irwin Law. Criminal Law and Procedure: Proof, Defences and Beyond, Third Edition, by J. Abell and E. Sheehy 2004 Captus Press. An Introduction to the Criminal Process in Canada, Fourth Edition, by Alan W. Mewett, Shaun Nakatsuru 2000 Carswell. Learning Canadian Criminal Procedure, Seventh Edition, by R.J. Delisle and Don Stuart, 2003 Carswell. Family Law Canadian Journal of Family Law http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/cdnjfl/index.html A meeting place for academics and professionals from a variety of disciplines to discuss and debate family law issues. Past issues of the journal can be accessed online. *Duhaime's Canadian Family Law Centre http://duhaime.org A collection of links on topics such as federal child support guidelines, marriage and divorce law, child custody, and spousal support. Texts Introduction to Canadian Family Law by Julien D. Payne and Marilyn A. Payne, 1994 Carswell.

13 Tort Law Duhaime's Canadian Personal Injury and Tort Law Centre http://www.duhaime.org/tort/ Summary of tort law in Canada. Includes sections on Negligence, Causation, Nuisance, Defamation, Government Liability, and Medical Liability. Texts Canadian Tort Law Seventh Edition, by Allen M. Linden, 2004 Butterworths Canada Ltd. Canadian Tort Law in a Nutshell Second Edition, by Margaret Kerr, Jo Ann Kurtz, Laurence M. Olivo 2005 Carswell. Videos and DVDs The Great Debate 2005 Ontario Justice Education Network The Great Debate is a yearly event organized by the Ontario Justice Education Network that brings together academics, legal professionals and educators for challenging discussion on a featured issue. The Great Debate 2005 took place in the historic Ontario Court of Appeal, Osgoode Hall and addressed the question, "Do we really need the Charter?. A DVD copy of the televised event can be obtained by teachers for educational purposes. Please contact ojen@lsuc.on.ca for further details. Some copies of The Great Debate 2004, How Will Same Sex Marriages Affect the Future of Canada? are also still available. Judicial Independence: What It Means to You Canadian Bar Association A 20 minute video accompanying an educational kit on this topic, Judicial Independence documents a variety of individuals addressing issues of judicial independence. For more information, visit the CBA website at www.cba.org or call Gaylene Schellenberg at the CBA National Office (1-800-267-8860, ext 139; gaylenes@cba.org). Try Judging Canadian Superior Judges' Association See Try Judging above (under General) for details regarding the resource as a whole. DVD contains scenarios dramatizing the five main questions Try Judging addresses. Resource materials to accompany the scenarios are available on the website, as are the dramatizations http://www.tryjudging.ca Understanding the Law: The Coat National Film Board of Canada A humourous four minute animated short in which a man is denied the right to purchase a woman s coat and decides to take the vendor to court on the basis that the ads for the coat

14 constituted a contract. Suggested for use in teaching Civil Law, Contract and Consumer Law. Order through the Film Board for $49.95. Call 1 800 267 7710. Understanding the Law: The Worm National Film Board of Canada A humourous four minute animated short suitable for use in discussions of Civil Law, and Contract and Consumer Law. A woman discovers a worm in her canned drink and decides to take the responsible beverage company to court for negligence. Can be ordered through the Film Board for $49.95. Call 1 800 267 7710. Youth Justice: A New Approach Department of Justice Canada A look at the Canadian government's renewal of the youth criminal justice system - told through dramatic, real life stories of young people getting their lives back on track. 45 minutes. To order a copy e-mail: youth-jeunes@justice.gc.ca.