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30 A p r I L 2 0 1 5 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m o en from the political right, about the Supreme Court exceeding its jurisdiction. " ese are important public issues and of course they are open to public debate. I don't think there is anything wrong with criticizing our decisions or having a discussion about the decisions," says Karakatsanis. at doesn't mean the SCC can ignore tough cases that may be controversial. "It is the Charter that has very much put the court at the cen- tre of some of these important and dif- fi cult social issues. It was the elected of- fi cials who gave us that role, to decide if the government is acting in accordance with the Charter," she says. "When there is no government action in a particular area that is the government's prerogative. It can decide to act or not to act, and it can look at what the consequences are of both courses of action and make its own decision. e court just does the best it can, on the record and the legal princi- ples before it," she explains. e recent unanimous decision of the court in the assisted suicide case, Carter v. Canada (Attorney General), stated that while stare decisis is a fundamental legal principle it is also "not a straitjacket that condemns the law to stasis." Overturning a previous decision, is not done lightly, says 30-SECOND SNAPSHOT: Andromache Karakatsanis Education: University of Toronto, BA in English literature Osgoode Hall Law School Clerked at the Ontario Court of Appeal Called to the bar: 1982 Professional: 1982-1987: Private practice 1987-1995: CEO of the Liquor Licence Board of Ontario 1995-1997: Assistant deputy attorney gen- eral, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General 1997-2000: Deputy attorney general, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General 2000-2002: Secretary to the cabinet and clerk of the executive council Bench: 2002: Appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice 2010: Appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal 2011: Appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada In 2000, she became secretary to the cabinet and clerk of the executive council of ontario. Let the experts help you to narrow your search and save you research time. Canadian Patent Reporter has been Canada's leading intellectual property law report since 1942. This renowned resource, available online and in print, includes precedent-setting intellectual property law judicial and board decisions from across Canada. This publication provides practitioners with the leading decisions on patent, industrial design, copyright and trade-mark law. Topical catchlines in bold print show the key issues involved in each decision. Expert case selection, editing and headnoting are a tradition with Canadian Patent Reporter. Weekly updates via email and in print, plus an annual cumulative index volume, ensure that this publication continues to be the prime reference source for intellectual property case law. Includes eReports (weekly electronic pdf version) Stay current as cases are issued with eReports emailed weekly to your desktop, with topically indexed case summaries linked to the full text judgments. Edited by Marcus Gallie, Ridout & Maybee LLP Fourth Series (Volumes 1 to 65): Edited by Glen Bloom, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP First, Second and Third Series: Edited by Gowling, Strathy & Henderson Founding Editor: Gordon F. Henderson, C.C., Q.C., LL.D. Canadian Patent Reporter Available risk-free for 30 days Order online: www.carswell.com Call Toll-Free: 1-800-387-5164 In Toronto: 416-609-3800 Order # A26520-65203 $523 Subscription price includes parts, bound volume and eReports Shipping and handling are extra. Price(s) subject to change without notice and subject to applicable taxes. 00227MK-A47900

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