Latest news with #DennisGaliatsatos
Montreal Gazette
15 hours ago
- Montreal Gazette
Quebec judge didn't have power to strike down part of language law, appeal court rules
By A Quebec Court judge did not have the authority to strike down a section of the province's language law before issuing a ruling exclusively in English, the Court of Appeal has ruled. In May 2024, Judge Dennis Galiatsatos found that a section of Quebec's language law, which would require judges who issue rulings in English to accompany them with a French translation 'immediately and without delay,' could not apply to criminal trials in the province. The provincial government appealed that decision. The province's highest court sided with the Quebec government, and ruled that Galiatsatos didn't have the authority to issue the decision. The May 27 ruling by a three-judge panel was delivered orally and written reasons for the decision are expected to published at a later date. Galiatsatos was not present and not represented at the appeal court hearing. The office of Quebec Justice Minister and Attorney General Simon Jolin-Barrette described the appeal court ruling as an 'important victory.' 'Rest assured we will continue to stand firm on our position. Justice must be accessible in French in Quebec,' Jolin-Barrette's office said in a statement. Galiatsatos's decision on the language law came shortly before he was to begin hearing the trial of a West Island woman who struck and killed a cyclist with her car and had requested to be tried in English. The translation requirement, which was introduced as part of the language law reform known as Bill 96, was scheduled to go into effect several days before the start of the trial and Galiatsatos said he worried that when it was time to issue his ruling, having it translated could lead to lengthy delays that might violate the accused's right to be tried within a reasonable amount of time. The issue was not raised by either party in the case, but rather by the judge himself, who proactively heard arguments from both the accused and the Crown, as well as the federal and provincial attorneys general on the translation requirement. Galiatsatos ultimately convicted the accused, Christine Pryde of dangerous driving, impaired driving and criminal negligence causing death, and issued a written decision exclusively in English, but ordered that it be translated. In November, Quebec's judicial council found that the judge didn't violate any ethical rules in his decision on the translation requirement, but said it was not the appeals court and couldn't rule on whether he applied the law correctly. That decision by the Conseil de la magistrature du Québec did not name Galiatsatos, but the circumstances of the case it referenced were identical.
Montreal Gazette
13-05-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Lawyers can't agree on sentence for driver who killed cyclist after taking Ativan
Montreal Crime By The prosecution and a defence lawyer representing a woman who was convicted last year of driving while impaired when she struck and killed a cyclist in the West Island were unable to reach an agreement on a sentence. At the Montreal courthouse Tuesday, lawyers from both sides informed Quebec Court Judge Dennis Galiatsatos they will need two days to present arguments on a sentence for Christine Pryde. The judge agreed to schedule two dates early in September to hear the arguments. In October, Pryde, 33, was found guilty of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, operating a vehicle while impaired and causing death by criminal negligence. Pryde killed Irène Dehem, a mother of three, while driving a Hyundai Accent shortly after noon on May 18, 2021, along l'Anse-à-l'Orme Rd. in Pierrefonds. As Pryde approached a curve in the road, she continued straight, crossed into the oncoming lane and ended up in a ditch. The car struck Dehem, who was riding her bicycle on a path. On the impaired driving charge, the judge determined that Pryde's ability to drive safely was affected by Ativan, medication she took the night before and on the morning of the incident. Defence lawyer Jessy Héroux said he plans to have four or five witnesses testify on Pryde's behalf 'to show the work she has done on herself.' He also said Pryde has not decided yet if she will testify when sentence arguments are made. A conviction for criminal negligence causing death comes with a maximum life sentence and a minimum sentence of four years.
