Every year, the Professors Peter Sankoff and Steven Penney take a look at the jurisprudential highlights and lowlights.
Winners of the Top Cases of 2025
The Bertha Wilson for Innovative Judicial Thinking: R v Vaughan, 2025 ONSC 1751
Morris Fish (Best Quote): J Green in R v Garlow, 2025 ONCJ 575 at para 70.
Cabinet Award (Most Unusual Case): R v Khill, 2025 ONCA 146
Defence Hero (Best Defence Decision): R v Toussaint, 2025 QCCA 1155
Allan Manson Award (Best Sentencing Decision): R v ML, 2025 QCCA 1035
Raspberry Award (Worst Decision): R v Rioux, 2025 SCC 34
Case of the Year: R v Whitlock, 2025 ONSC 6006
Winners of the Top Cases of 2024
Fresh Start Award (Innovative Judicial Thinking): R v Whitehawk, 2024 SKCA 95
Morris Fish (Best Quote): Rybchuk J in R v Larson, 2024 SKPC 17
Cabinet Award (Most Unusual Case): R v Nevin, 2024 NSCA 64
Defence Hero (Best Defence Decision): R v Larson, 2024 SKPC 17
Allan Manson Award (Best Sentencing Decision): R v Cope, 2024 NSCA 59
Raspberry Award (Worst Decision): R v Barton, 2024 ABCA 34
Case of the Year: R v Reimer, 2024 ONCA 519
Winners of the Top Cases of 2023
Fresh Start Award (Innovative Judicial Thinking): R v Lorfanor, 2023 QCCA 449
Morris Fish (Best Quote): Drennan JA – R v Sabiston, 2023 SKCA 105 at para 37.
Trenches (Most Impactful): R v Zacharias, 2023 SCC 30
Defence Hero (Best Defence Decision): R v Davis, 2023 ONCA 227
Raspberry Award (Worst Decision): R v RS, 2023 ONCA 608 (Majority Judgment)
Case of the Year: R v Wournell, 2023 NSCA 53
Watch the seminar here.
Winners of the Top Cases of 2022
Fresh Start Award (Innovative Judicial Thinking): R v Myers, 2022 NSCA 69
Morris Fish (Best Quote): Healy JA – R v Réné, 2022 QCCA 1051 at para 9.
Trenches (Most Impactful): R v Ndhlovu, 2022 SCC 38
Defence Hero (Best Defence Decision): R v LaFrance, 2022 SCC 32
Raspberry Award (Worst Decision): R v JJ, 2022 SCC 28
Case of the Year: R v King, 2022 ONCA 665
Watch the seminar here.
Winners of the Top Cases of 2021
Fresh Start Award (Innovative Judicial Thinking): R v Dhingra, 2021 QCCA 1681
Morris Fish (Best Quote): Harris J – R v Holloway, 2021 ONSC 6136 at para 102.
Trenches (Most Impactful): R v Khill, 2021 SCC 37
Defence Hero (Best Defence Decision): R v SKM, 2021 ABCA 246
Raspberry Award (Worst Decision): R v Badger, 2021 SKCA 118
Case of the Year: R v Anderson, 2021 NSCA 62
Watch the seminar here.
Winners of the Top Cases of 2020
Fresh Start Award (Innovative Judicial Thinking): R v Carbone, 2020 ONCA 394
Morris Fish (Best Quote): DeWitt van Oosten JA – R v Roth, 2020 BCCA 240 at para 130
Trenches (Most Impactful): R v Friesen, 2020 SCC9
Defence Hero (Best Defence Decision): R v Tessier, 2020 ABCA 289
Raspberry Award (Worst Decision): R v BRS, 2020 ABCA 29
Case of the Year: R v Zora, 2020 SCC 14
Watch the seminar here.