Impunity

Allan Gardens, Friday, July 2, 2021

For the first time in more than five years, this post is coming to you from a new computer. It's still a MacBook Air, but obtained with a fraction of the futzing around of the first one.

The photo above also comes to you by way of a new Apple product, my iPhone SE which, according to Apple, is their "most popular size at their most affordable price." 

I got a new phone because I dropped the old one and broke the camera.

The masked man at the Apple store said they might be able to fix my iPhone 7, but I decided to get a new one. It's embarrassing walking around with the world's oldest iPhone.

But enough about me and my electronic devices, I want to talk about impunity - Jeffrey-Epstein-calibre impunity - and how it has captured the imagination of the general population.

It's well established that rich people are above the law (cf. Epstein circa 1974-2019). But, with the pandemic fanning the flames of wanna be scofflaws, regular people everywhere are trying it on for size.

For example, there's the Etobicoke barbecue restaurant guy, Adam Skelly, who recently lobbed into court a constitutional challenge against charges laid for opening his establishment in contravention of COVID-19 rules.

His case was stalled the other day on procedural grounds. 

The judge was candid about how the complainant and his lawyers had shot themselves in the foot.

“The problems are not minor or technical in nature. They cannot be overlooked. They go to the heart of procedural fairness and the court’s jurisdiction,” said Justice Jasmine Akbarali.

... Akbarali noted that Skelly’s team had ample time to fix the procedural issues....

“Earlier in the proceedings, when the Notices of Motion were being prepared, the respondents were represented by four counsel. I cannot explain why none of them considered these very basic issues, or if they did, why they did not address the deficiencies in the proceeding which could have been done in February or March, 2021, and would have preserved the June 28 and 29 dates for a hearing on the merits.”

One of Skelly's advisers was also candid. Chris Weisdorf described the decision as a “complete joke” and said “the rule of law has been cancelled, once again.”

He was candid, but also wrong. The advisor seems to be imagining that "rule of law" means "I get to do what I want."

Like I said, the freedom to do only what you want is the exclusive stronghold of the rich. 

Speaking of money, Skelly's GoFundMe page has raised almost $350,000. 

If they could just figure out how to ably defend their client, Skelly's lawyers might get rich.

Thanks for reading!

Have a great week!

Karen