Paul Broad posted earlier today about Friday’s Supreme Court of Canada judgment on media access to courts and its right to broadcast audio recordings of proceedings. Its companion decision – “Canadian Broadcasting Corporation II” – is much less principled, though does settle a debate about whether access to and use of exhibits is governed by the approach endorsed in Vickery v. Nova Scotia Supreme Court (Prothonotary), [1991] 1 S.C.R. 671 (burden of justification on media) or in Dagenais/Mentuck, [1994] 3 S.C.R. 835 (burden of justification on person or persons opposing access).
In a judgement written by Dechamps J., the Court unanimously held that Dagenais/Mentuck governs with the factors identified in Vickery remaining relevant. The Ontario Court of Appeal took a similar position in a judgement last November.
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