R. v. M.J.
The Court of Appeal upheld the application judge's finding that the habeas corpus application was moot after the appellant's release on bail and that there was no error in dismissing the application for lack of a live controversy.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- 2025 ONCA 406
- Parties
- Respondent: His Majesty the King; Appellant: M.J.
- Court
- Court of Appeal for Ontario
- Jurisdiction
- Canada
- Judgment Date
- 4 June 2025
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal / Appeal From Habeas Corpus Application Dismissal (court of Appeal)
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed.
- Legal Topics
- Habeas Corpus, Mootness, Charter Remedies, Pre Trial Detention
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
His Majesty the King
Respondent
M.J.
Appellant
Procedural Posture
Criminal / Appeal From Habeas Corpus Application Dismissal (court of Appeal)
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the habeas corpus application was rendered moot by the appellant's release on bail
- 2 Whether habeas corpus and associated Charter remedies remain available after restoration of liberty
- 3 Whether the application judge erred in law in dismissing the application as moot
Ratio Decidendi
The Court of Appeal upheld the application judge's finding that the habeas corpus application was moot after the appellant's release on bail and that there was no error in dismissing the application for lack of a live controversy.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed.
Orders
- Appeal dismissed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
R. v. M.J. Collection Decisions of the Court of Appeal Date 2025-06-04 Neutral citation 2025 ONCA 406 Docket numbers COA-23-CR-1384 Judges Fairburn, J. Michal; Roberts, Lois B.; Madsen, Lene Subject Criminal Decision Content COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO CITATION: R. v. M.J., 2025 ONCA 406[1] DATE: 20250604 DOCKET: COA-23-CR-1384 Fairburn A.C.J.O., Roberts and Madsen JJ.A. BETWEEN His Majesty the King Respondent and M.J. Appellant Kevin W. Gray, for the appellant Mimi Singh, for the respondent Heard and released orally: May 28, 2025 On appeal from the order of Justice Suhail A.Q. Akhtar of the Superior Court of Justice, dated November 29, 2023, with reasons reported at 2024 ONSC 138. REASONS FOR DECISION [1] The appellant faced a charge of second-degree murder. She was detained pending trial. She brought a habeas corpus application seeking Charter remedies for damages following her transfer between facilities. The factual foundation is set out in the application judge’s decision. [2] The appellant was released on bail prior to the hearing of the application. The application judge determined that the matter had been rendered moot given she had already been released from detention. Accordingly, the application was dismissed. [3] This is an appeal from that decision. The appellant argues that the application judge erred in concluding that the matter was moot, asserting that the judge adopted an overly narrow view of habeas corpus. Specifically, the appellant maintains that this remedy remains available even after one’s liberty interest has been restored. [4] We see no error in the application judge’s conclusion to the contrary, which he carefully explained within the context and history of this matter. [5] Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed. “Fairburn A.C.J.O.” “L.B. Roberts J.A.” “L. Madsen J.A.” [1] This appeal is subject to a publication ban pursuant to s. 110 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, S.C. 2022, c. 1.