Morgentaler v Regina: 28 Jan 1988

Supreme Court of Canada – Constitutional law — Charter of Rights — Life, liberty and security of the person — Fundamental justice — Abortion — Criminal Code prohibiting abortion except where life or health of woman endangered — Whether or not abortion provisions infringe right to life, liberty and security of the person — If so, whether or not such infringement in accord with fundamental justice — Whether or not impugned legislation reasonable and demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society — Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, ss. 1, 7 — Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, s. 251.
Constitutional law — Jurisdiction — Superior court powers and inter-delegation — Whether or not therapeutic abortion committees exercising s. 96 court functions — Whether or not abortion provisions improperly delegate criminal law powers — Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 91(27), 96.
Constitutional law — Charter of Rights — Whether or not Attorney General’s right of appeal constitutional — Costs — Whether or not prohibition on costs constitutional — Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, ss. 605, 610(3).
Criminal law — Abortion — Criminal Code prohibiting abortion and procuring of abortion except where life or health of woman endangered — Whether or not abortion provisions ultra vires Parliament — Whether or not abortion provisions infringe right to life, liberty and security of the person — If so, whether or not such infringement in accord with fundamental justice — Whether or not impugned legislation reasonable and demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
Criminal law — Juries — Address to jury advising them to ignore law as stated by judge — Counsel wrong.

Judges:

Dickson CJ and Beetz, Estey, McIntyre, Lamer, Wilson and La Forest JJ

Citations:

[1988] 1 SCR 30, 1988 CanLII 90 (SCC)

Links:

Canlii

Jurisdiction:

Canada

Constitutional, Human Rights, Crime, Health Professions

Updated: 11 May 2022; Ref: scu.597674