Keith Leslie reports:
Crown prosecutors and police in several Ontario communities conducted secret background checks on prospective jurors, Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian will report Monday following an investigation by her office into the illegal practice.
The commissioner began the investigation after reports Crown attorneys in Barrie, Windsor and Thunder Bay convinced police to do background checks on jury candidates in violation of provincial law.
The background checks – which saw investigators reporting back on such things as whether or not the potential jurors like police – have resulted in two mistrials so far as defence lawyers claim abuse of process.
Read more from the Canadian Press.