A ruling today by Ontario's highest court could impact several criminal proceedings held since the federal government changed the jury selection process.
The Ontario Court of Appeal has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of first-degree murder after proceedings reached the jury selection process on the day Bill C-75 took effect.
Lawyers for Pardeep Singh Chouhan argued the new rules scrapping ``peremptory challenges'' of prospective jurors infringed on his right to a fair trial and should not apply to those who had already requested a jury trial before the new rules took effect.
The appeal court has ruled the elimination of peremptory challenges did not violate Chouhan's rights but agreed the new rule should not have been applied to his trial.