Criminal Appeal Consultations
At Sankoff Criminal Law, complex appeals are our speciality. Lead Counsel, Peter Sankoff, has a keen eye for uncovering grounds of appeal, backed by vast practical experience and a prolific academic background.
Peter has successfully argued before both the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada on numerous occasions. As one of the country’s leading experts on criminal and evidence law, Peter is well-placed to identify grounds and advanced strong and novel arguments on appeal. Peter has been described as “[having] his fingers on the pulse of the most recent case law on issues of evidence and substantive criminal law.”
Professor in Residence Steven Penney provides another sounding board on questions involving the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and criminal procedure more broadly.
If you are handling an appeal, we can assist by reviewing the case and providing suggestions for how to approach the issues tactically. Our appellate expertise routinely allows us to offer lines of inquiry that might have been overlooked, or help develop arguments in a way that provides a greater chance for success.
As highlighted in our Services for Clients, this expertise additionally allows us to advance the strongest leave applications possible, thereby maximizing the chances of being one of the 80 applicants granted leave by the Supreme Court of Canada this year.
Whether you need assistance bolstering a leave application or expertise on your appeal, Sankoff Criminal Law is here to help. Contact us today for a consultation.
Successful Appeals
Sankoff Criminal Law’s dedicated appellate lawyers have acted successfully on a number of important criminal cases at both the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Some of Peter’s notable cases include the following:
- R v Suter, in which the Supreme Court reversed the Alberta Court of Appeal’s decision to raise a sentence from 4 to 26 months of imprisonment for refusing to provide a breath sample.
- R v DLW, a Supreme Court case concerning the legal definition of bestiality.
- R v Barton, a successful Supreme Court appeal on sexual assault, murder/manslaughter.
- R v Churchill, an Alberta Court of Appeal Case in which the sentence in a drug trafficking case was successfully appealed and reduced.
- R v Al-Askari, in which the Alberta Court of Appeal overruled the trial judge and found that the accused’s s.8 Charter right to be free from unreasonable search or seizure was infringed.
- R v Sunderji, the accused’s assault causing bodily harm conviction was struck on appeal.
- R v Whiskeyjack, a successful appeal where a first-degree murder conviction was overturned and a new trial ordered.
Related Publications
The Law of Witnesses and Evidence in Canada
In "The Law of Witnesses and Evidence in Canada", Lead Counsel at Sankoff Criminal Law, Peter Sankoff, provides expert analysis of evidentiary issues as they arise in legal proceedings. The book covers many questions that arise daily in criminal trial proceedings, including those related to hearsay, competence, compellability, privilege, examination, and cross-examination.
Criminal Law
In the 5th Edition of "Criminal Law", Peter Sankoff co-authors a critical examination of the criminal law in Canada. Cited by the Supreme Court of Canada and appellate courts across the country, this book has proven to be an essential resource for Crown and defence counsel alike. The book explores numerous trial-related topics, including an analysis of Criminal Code offences and commonly raised defences.