R. v. J.Z.S., 2010 SCC 1, [2010] 1 SCR 3

                                                 SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

Between:

J.Z.S.

Appellant

and

Her Majesty The Queen

Respondent

- and -

Attorney General of Canada, Attorney General of Ontario,

Attorney General of Quebec, Attorney General of Manitoba,

Attorney General of Alberta and Justice for Children and Youth

Interveners

Coram:  McLachlin C.J. and Binnie, LeBel, Deschamps, Fish, Abella, Charron, Rothstein and Cromwell JJ.

______________________________

R. v. J.Z.S., 2010 SCC 1, [2010] 1 S.C.R. 3

J.Z.S.                                                                                                                                   Appellant

v.

Her Majesty The Queen                                                                                                 Respondent

and

Attorney General of Canada, Attorney General of

Ontario, Attorney General of Quebec, Attorney General

of Manitoba, Attorney General of Alberta and Justice for

Children and Youth                                                                                                          Interveners

Indexed as:  R. v. J.Z.S.

Neutral citation:  2010 SCC 1.

File No.:  32942.

2010:  January 19.

Present:  McLachlin C.J. and Binnie, LeBel, Deschamps, Fish, Abella, Charron, Rothstein and Cromwell JJ.

on appeal from the court of appeal for british columbia

Constitutional law — Charter of Rights  — Fundamental justice — Fair trial — Accused convicted of sexual assault — Two children under 14 years of age testifying behind screen pursuant to s. 486.2  of Criminal Code  — Section 16.1  of Canada Evidence Act  presuming testimonial competence of witness under 14 years of age — Sections 486.2 and 16.1  not infringing s. 7  of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms  — Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, s. 486.2  — Canada Evidence Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-5, s. 16.1 .

Constitutional law — Charter of Rights  — Fair trial  — Accused convicted of sexual assault — Two children under 14 years of age testifying behind screen pursuant to s. 486.2  of Criminal Code  — Section 16.1  of Canada Evidence Act  presuming testimonial competence of witness under 14 years of age — Sections 486.2 and 16.1  not infringing s. 11(d)  of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms  — Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C‑46, s. 486.2  — Canada Evidence Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C‑5, s. 16.1 .

APPEAL from a judgment of the British Columbia Court of Appeal (Levine, Chiasson and Smith JJ.A.), 2008 BCCA 401, 261 B.C.A.C. 52, 440 W.A.C. 52, 238 C.C.C. (3d) 522, 181 C.R.R. (2d) 31, 61 C.R. (6th) 282, [2008] B.C.J. No. 1915 (QL), 2008 CarswellBC 2132, affirming a judgment of Metzger J., 2007 BCSC 900, 222 C.C.C. (3d) 330, 48 C.R. (6th) 329, [2007] B.C.J. No. 1374 (QL), 2007 CarswellBC 1437, upholding the accused’s convictions.  Appeal dismissed.

Christopher W. A. Brennan, for the appellant.

Mary T. Ainslie, for the respondent.

Nancy Dennison and Cheryl J. Tobias, Q.C., for the intervener the Attorney General of Canada.

Lisa Joyal and Joan Barrett, for the intervener the Attorney General of Ontario.

Daniel Grégoire, for the intervener the Attorney General of Quebec.

Michael Conner, for the intervener the Attorney General of Manitoba.

Joanne B. Dartana, for the intervener the Attorney General of Alberta.

Mary M. Birdsell and Andrea Gatti, for the intervener Justice for Children and Youth.

The judgment of the Court was delivered orally by

[1]     The Chief Justice — We are all of the view that this appeal must be dismissed for the reasons given by the British Columbia Court of Appeal.

Judgment accordingly.

Solicitor for the appellant:  Christopher W. A. Brennan, Victoria.

Solicitor for the respondent: Ministry of the Attorney General, Vancouver.

Solicitor for the intervener the Attorney General of Canada:  Attorney General of Canada, Vancouver.

Solicitor for the intervener the Attorney General of Ontario: Ministry of the Attorney General, Toronto.

Solicitor for the intervener the Attorney General of Quebec:  Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions of Quebec, Québec.

Solicitor for the intervener the Attorney General of Manitoba:  Attorney General of Manitoba, Winnipeg.

Solicitor for the intervener the Attorney General of Alberta:  Attorney General of Alberta, Edmonton.

Solicitor for the intervener Justice for Children and Youth:  Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law, Toronto.