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[Cross-posted from the OUP Blog)   The 1868 decision in R. v Hicklin created a formula for evaluating obscene works that British and American courts would use for nearly a century. Chief Justice Alexander Cockburn, in a succinct phrase that numerous courts would quote, explained that “the test of obscenity is … whether the tendency of the matter charged as obscenity is to deprave and corrupt those whose minds are open to such immoral influences, and into whose hands a publication of this sort may fall.” Hicklin is often taken as inaugurating a new era in obscenity law, shifting attention away from the author’s intentions, and towards a vague and subjective evaluation of the work’s effects.

When lawyers say that hard cases make bad law, they usually mean that extreme or unusual circumstances provide poor basis for making legal rule that would have to be applicable to a wider range of more common cases. Sometimes the phrase describes cases that involve a party whose hardship draws sympathy even if its legal case is weak. But sometime hard cases can make good law, when they present smart judges with difficult dilemmas and force them to think hard and deep on their ruling and its broader consequences. Yet courts don't always choose the cases that come before them and the possibility of a hard case making bad law is an occupational hazard of the legal system.

The Jackman Law Building has been recognized with two building awards.

The new building received a 2017 Ontario Builder Award. These awards recognize latest and greatest projects built by Ontario's general contractors, including professional office buildings, restaurants, department stores, waste water treatment plants, hotels and recreational facilities.  Eastern Construction Company Limited was recognized for its work on the new Faculty of Law building.

Find out more on the Ontario Builder Awards web page (see "Group 3 Buildings").

The new building also received a Steel Design Award of Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction at a gala awards ceremony celebrating the best in steel construction at the Art Gallery of Ontario on May 9, 2017. It won in the Projects Converted or Innovated Using Steel category.

Find out more on the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction website.

Attempting to fulfill his election promises, President Trump has begun to reevaluate post financial crisis rules designed to protect investors. The broad-based Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will be the target of much of Trump’s reforms in this area, which if repealed would undoubtedly leave investors vulnerable.

The Dodd-Frank Act added lending restrictions aimed at: preventing the formation of risky mortgages, protecting consumers against predatory provisions and extending similar protections to common forms of consumer debt including credit cards. In addition, its bank investment provisions (the ‘Volcker Rule’) prevent banks from trading securities in their own account while also restricting their investment in hedge funds and private equity. The derivatives provisions create a framework for the regulation of over the counter swaps, restricted regulatory authority of swap agreements and incorporated anti-fraud measures.

But the President and his team cannot instantaneously unwind Dodd-Frank – it is, after all, enacted law which would require 60 votes to be repealed and Republicans in Congress would not yet provide the support needed given that only 52 votes appear to be available.