R. (City of Calgary and Alberta Attorney General) v. Pawlowski
TRIAL #1
Two City of Calgary Bylaws and a Provincial Traffic Safety Regulation are declared unconstitutional in the prosecution of well known "Street Preacher" Art Pawlowski. Michael Bates and colleague Rebecca Snukal successfully defended the leader of the Street Church Ministry from actions by City Officials that the trial judge would call "...precariously close to being excessive and, to any reasonable observer, an abuse of power."
TRIAL #2
Closing arguments have been made on the constitutionality of another set of City of Calgary Bylaws. Charged with offences such as operating an amplification system, giving away free food, and doing anything likley to attract a crowd in a City park without a permit, the Street Church Ministry itself has claimed that the laws violate freedom of religion, freedom of expression and other rights guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A decision is scheduled to be handed down on November 1, 2010.
TRIAL #3
The trial that never was. Following the acquittal and declaration of Charter violations from Trial #1, and the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses in Trial #2, the City of Calgary threw in the towel and voluntarily dropped all Trial #3 charges...before Trial #2 even concluded.
CBC News, April 22, 2010 - "Bylaw charges dropped against street minister"
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