Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Canadian Court Rules You Have the Right To Google a Lawyer

Posted by timothy on from the here-it's-one-phone-call-and-a-brandy dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Hollywood crime dramas are infamous for the scene when an accused is taken to a local police station and permitted a single phone call to contact a relative or lawyer. While the storyline is myth — there is no limit on the number of phone calls available to an accused or detainee — Michael Geist reports on a recent Canadian case establishing a new, real requirement for law enforcement. After a 19-year old struggled to find a lawyer using the telephone, the court ruled that police must provide an accused with Internet access in order to exercise their right to counsel."

5 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. But I'm telling you... by Kinwolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... my lawyer is on a raid in WoW, I MUST level my char to 80 to be able to reach him!

  2. Re:Idea for a new ASK SLASHDOT: by microhax · · Score: 4, Funny

    Better call Saul!

  3. Re:ObFanboi by sourcerror · · Score: 4, Funny

    As an added bonus, it would provide the lockdown too!

  4. Mr. Anderson... by ClickOnThis · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...what good is the internet if you are...unable to type?

    [Apologies to those with physical challenges.]

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  5. Re:Google is the new phone book by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    "I'm not seeing any particular reason that the time spent searching could not be supervised; no privileged information is going to be shared with the attorney before contacting them."

    Besides, everybody knows the address in the US.:
    http://www.bettercallsaul.com/