Juliet O'Neill
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A Canadian journalist, Juliet O'Neill was the subject of controversy when the RCMP raided her house on January 21st 2004, in an attempt to find the source of an internal leak giving her access to privileged documents related to the Maher Arar case.
Her position within the Ottawa Citizen office at the time was Foreign Affairs
The raid seized notebooks, files, hard drives and other materials.
In November 2004, Ontario Superior Court Judge Lynn Ratushny ruled that the sealing of the search warrants was unacceptable, although Justice of the Peace Richard Sculthorpe had given approval after the RCMP invoked the Security of Information Act. Judge Ratushny stated that the sealing of the search violated guarantees of a free press, freedom of expression and the public's right to an open court system. She ordered that a redacted copy be released to the public.[1]
In October 2006, Ontario Superior Court Judge Ratushny struck down Section 4 of the Security of Information Act[2], ruling that it was "unconstitutionally vague" and broad[3] and an infringement of freedom of expression.
All materials seized from O'Neill were ordered returned, and the Attorney General of Ontario's office was forced to pay legal costs.
O'Neill was represented by attorneys Rick Dearden and Wendy Wagner from Gowlings Law Firm.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.injusticebusters.com/04/ONeill_Juliet.htm
- ^ Section 4 of the Security of Information Act. Consolidated Statutes and Regulations. Department of Justice Canada (2006-9-15). Retrieved on 2006-10-26.
- ^ MacLeod, Ian. "Decision offers chance to overhaul security act", The Ottawa Citizen, October 20, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-26. (in EN)
