Keely Duncan

Criminal Defence Lawyer
Opinions are my own
Tweets are not legal advice

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

Now we're the ones banning flags? Shame... https://t.co/78ZNbNOOYd

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

"...torture cannot be justified for convenience..." https://t.co/TZc3Qz2n3u

[John Howard Society @JohnHoward_Can]

If "repeat offenders, mental health, addictions, and homelessness, ... are at the heart of the public safety crisis in urban centres" bail reform is not the solution. Need to address addictions, mental health + homelessness
https://t.co/A11pR8dBBK via @truenorthcentre

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

Love this typo!! https://t.co/KwyWDGBWuF

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

Congrats @HilaryCrimLaw @MaximeJBedard on a great win! https://t.co/mZo3RqnwYA

[Tom Engel @TomEngel18]

Well said: "To those who may have negative or disrespectful comments, who say, 'Don't do the crime if you can't do the time,' ... our loved ones were human beings who deserved basic humanity and human rights."
#prison #humanrights

https://t.co/oRGKPCcjm1

[Criminal Lawyers’ Association @ClaOntario]

The @ClaOntario acknowledges today’s funding announcement by @douglasdowney @ONAttorneyGen to hire additional judges and crown prosecutors to help address ongoing significant delays in the criminal justice system. While these resources are sorely needed and will assist, a fair, equitable and properly functioning criminal judicial system can not exist when only two of the three major participants are properly funded. 

The number of self-represented individuals in Ontario’s courts has more than tripled in the last 5 years. Most fail to qualify for legal aid funding because of badly outdated financial eligibility guidelines that have remained unchanged for far too long. Also, while legal aid tariff enhancements have been made in recent years, when adjusted for cost of living and inflation, we are still far behind where we were 10, 20 or 30 years ago. Perhaps for this reason, nearly three times as many legal aid certificates are unacknowledged (meaning indigent defendants cannot find lawyers to take their case) today than in pre-pandemic times. 

Ontario deserves a justice system that is fair for everyone. Properly funding the judiciary and the prosecution is important and appreciated, but it is not enough. Properly funding indigent accused, and counsel who assist them at far-below-market rates, is also needed to ensure that justice is truly done. We hope to give credit to those announcements really soon.

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

This rings too true.

[Judge Roy Ferguson @JudgeFergusonTX]

There is too much truth to this joke:
"What's the difference between a light bulb and a lawyer? A light bulb stops working when it burns out."
It reminded me of my @ABAYLD #LetsTalkLawyering column from 2022, urging young lawyers to adopt a healthier view of our own importance.

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

@MargauxPeckLaw Yes, I definitely agree with that

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

Thoughts, anyone?

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

@SainiLaw As have I, but I'm interested in the dialogue of it being a practice directive by the court

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

Great 11(b) decision by Justice Jones

[CourtReportCanada @CourtReportCA]

Judge unimpressed by Crown's disclosure or "unwarranted" attack on defence counsel as firearm charges dismissed for under-ceiling delay:"there is no escaping the conclusion that the delay was due to the Crown's negligence in providing essential disclosure https://t.co/zaIjWO8J82

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

These are the kinds of programs that prevent people from needing lawyers like us. Communities should invest their time, money and compassion in such programs. This impacts the rate of crime far far more than harsher sentences. #makeadifference

[MuskokaRegion.com @MuskokaRegion]

#Gravenhurst’s Jody North is the founder of Mind-Aid, a service that helps young people navigate #Muskoka’s mental health system-
https://t.co/oMncVGEDkH

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

Of good character, but not allowed to be alone with children for their safety... How are these two statements reconcilable? There should be a tertiary ground component to the evaluation. https://t.co/zOC4Uz9Sad

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

An independent judiciary is critical to a functioning democracy https://t.co/unaBeExyLN

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

Criminal allegations, a civil suit, and now guilty of professional misconduct. Result? Demotion. That is all. We have to do better.. https://t.co/P8D6TeDICh

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

@ErinDurant42 perfectly articulates the current issues with the justice system

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

Truth

[Alison Craig @lawandchocolate]

The $337K in public funds that the Toronto Police saw fit to spend on their podcast sure would fund a lot of social programming that actually prevents crime in the first place.

[Keely Duncan @DuncanDefence]

Great work by defence counsel @Humza_AH https://t.co/EfwlNkTeiZ

[Supreme Court of Canada @SCC_eng]

Law students: applications to be a tour guide at the SCC are being accepted until Jan. 21. If you enjoy sharing your passion for the law and Canadian democracy with people, this is the perfect job for you!

https://t.co/dcQDfgjtz7