Scales of Justice (TV series)

Scales of Justice was a Canadian series of docudrama television films, which aired on CBC Television between 1991 and 1995.[1] Based on an earlier CBC Radio series of the same name, the films dramatized notable Canadian court cases, with actors reenacting the real-life events of the trial.[2]

The series was produced by George Jonas, with lawyer Edward Greenspan involved in the production as narrator and legal consultant, while episodes were co-written by Jonas with a variety of collaborators and directed by a variety of Canadian filmmakers.[3]

Episodes of the series were either one hour or two hours, depending on the complexity of the case being depicted.

The series was cancelled in 1995.[4]

Controversy

Robert Stewart, whose trial had been depicted in a 1991 episode, sued Greenspan and the CBC in 1996 for purportedly violating his obligations of loyalty and confidentiality, as Greenspan had been directly involved in Stewart's appeal of his original conviction.[5] During the case, Stewart claimed that the episode had damaged his reputation in the community where he now lived, as he felt that the episode depicted him as a callous murderer rather than a man who was simply caught up in an accident,[6] while the producers testified that the episode had been Jonas's idea and Greenspan had actually opposed it on the grounds that it would create an appearance of conflict of interest for him, and that he had actually intervened to make the original script more fair to Stewart's perspective once it became clear that Jonas was still going to proceed.[7]

Justice John Macdonald dismissed the suit against the CBC in April 1996 on the grounds that Stewart had failed to show culpability on the network's part.[8] He later found Greenspan liable for breach of trust, but ordered Greenspan to pay just $5,750 in restitution rather than the $77,000 demanded by Stewart in his original suit;[9] however, after Stewart demanded additional damages of over $200,000, Macdonald subsequently also ruled that Stewart's claim of deliberate malfeasance on Greenspan's part was unmeritorious, calling it a reasonable error in judgement, and ordered Stewart to pay court costs to Greenspan as well.[10]

Greenspan subsequently waived the claim to costs, on condition that Stewart release a statement renouncing his prior claims that Greenspan had acted improperly.[11]

Cyril Belshaw, whose murder trial was depicted in a 1994 film, also criticized his episode for purportedly not being unequivocal enough about his innocence.[12]

Episodes
# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Regina v. Logan"David CronenbergGeorge Jonas, Guy Gavriel KayJanuary 6, 1991 (1991-01-06)
The trial against Sutcliffe and Hugh Logan, the shooters of Barbara Turnbull. Stars Richard Yearwood and Desmond Campbell as the Logan brothers, and Turnbull as herself.[13]
2"Regina v. Horvath"David CronenbergGeorge Jonas, Michael TaitMarch 17, 1991 (1991-03-17)
The murder trial of John Horvath, charged with killing his mother. Stars Louis Ferreira as Horvath, and Les Carlson as RCMP investigator Larry Proke.[14]
3"Regina v. Stewart"Sturla GunnarssonGeorge Jonas, Michael TaitNovember 17, 1991 (1991-11-17)
The manslaughter trial of Robert Stewart following a hit and run car accident that killed Judy Jordan, with Stewart insisting that his car had been stolen, and was being driven by someone else, despite it having been found in his own driveway after the accident. Stars Robert Joy as Stewart and Sean McCann as his lawyer Malcolm Robb.[15]
4"Regina v. Nelles"Michael AndersonGeorge Jonas, Guy Gavriel KayMarch 1, 1992 (1992-03-01)
The trial of Susan Nelles, the nurse charged in the Toronto hospital baby deaths case of the early 1980s. Stars Jennifer Griffin as Nelles, Michael Kirby as her lawyer Austin Cooper, and David Hemblen as Justice Samuel Grange.[16]
5"Regina v. Pappajohn"Michael AndersonGeorge JonasNovember 15, 1992 (1992-11-15)
The "Champagne & Dubonnet" case of George Pappajohn, a Vancouver business executive who was charged with sexual assault after what he had believed was a consensual sexual encounter with his real estate agent. Stars Kim Coates as Pappajohn, Sherry Miller as the real estate agent, and Lawrence Dane as Justice Toy.[17]
6"Regina v. Coffin"Eric TillGeorge Jonas, Guy Gavriel KayJanuary 17, 1993 (1993-01-17)
The murder trial of Wilbert Coffin. Stars Wayne Robson as Coffin.[18]
7"Regina v. Truscott"Sturla GunnarssonGeorge Jonas, Guy Gavriel KayFebruary 21, 1993 (1993-02-21)
The controversial trial of Steven Truscott, dramatizing scenes from both his original trial and his first appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Stars Zachary Ansley as Truscott, Kenneth Welsh as the prosecuting crown attorney, and Neil Munro as Truscott's defense attorney.[19]
8"Rex v. De Marigny"Michael AndersonGeorge Jonas, Guy Gavriel KayOctober 31, 1993 (1993-10-31)
The 1943 murder of Harry Oakes. Stars Scott Hylands as Oakes, Eric Murphy as accused killer Alfred de Marigny, Al Waxman and Chuck Shamata as detectives, and episode director Michael Anderson in a small appearance as Edward, Duke of Windsor.[20]
9"L'Affaire Belshaw"Eric TillGeorge JonasOctober 30, 1994 (1994-10-30)
The only episode of the series to cover a case which took place outside of Canada, depicting the murder trial of Canadian academic Cyril Belshaw in Switzerland after the disappearance of his wife. Stars Robin Gammell as Belshaw, Chris Wiggins as his lawyer, and Eric Peterson as the judge.[21]
10"Regina vs. Gamble & Nichols"Sturla GunnarssonGeorge JonasFebruary 26, 1995 (1995-02-26)
Case of Janise Gamble, the first woman in Canadian legal history to be convicted of first-degree murder. Starring Jhene Erwin as Gamble, Louis Ferreira as her husband John, and Scott Kraft as Billy Nichols.[22]

Awards
Award Date of Ceremony Category Nominees Result Reference
Gemini Awards 1993 Best TV Movie George Jonas for "Regina v. Nelles" Won [23]
Best Short Dramatic Program George Jonas for "Regina v. Stewart" Won
1994 George Jonas for "Regina v. Coffin" Nominated [24]
Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Sturla Gunnarsson for "Regina v. Truscott" Nominated
1995 Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Michael Anderson for "Rex v. De Marigny" Nominated [25]
Best Production Design or Art Direction Alicia Keywan, Armando Sgrignuoli Nominated

References
  1. Betsy Powell, "Victim plays herself in CBC re-creation of shooting". Montreal Gazette, January 2, 2991.
  2. Tony Atherton, "True-life crime on TV; Scales of Justice moves from radio with cult director". Ottawa Citizen, May 7, 1990.
  3. "Scales of Justice makes weighty TV". Vancouver Sun, January 5, 1991.
  4. Greg Quill, "CBC-TV fall schedule's lack of freshness scary". Toronto Star, June 6, 1995.
  5. "Former client sues over lawyers TV show". Kingston Whig-Standard, February 21, 1996.
  6. Donn Downey, "TV crime episode took toll on man's family, court told". The Globe and Mail, February 24, 1996.
  7. Thomas Claridge, "Greenspan says he opposed CBC show about ex-client: Sought charges in script, scenes for fairness, lawyer testifies". The Globe and Mail, March 7, 1996.
  8. Thomas Claridge, "Judge dismisses allegations against CBC over TV episode". The Globe and Mail, April 5, 1996.
  9. "Greenspan to pay for depicting client on CBC series". Canadian Press, June 6, 1997.
  10. Thomas Claridge, "Legal victory over top lawyer proves costly: Scales of Justice lawsuit winner ordered to pay part of Greenspan's court costs". The Globe and Mail, October 14, 1997.
  11. "Legal costs waived". The Globe and Mail, March 19, 1998.
  12. John Colebourn, "CBC show upsets Belshaw". The Province, November 1, 1994.
  13. Shirley Knott, "The scales of justice tilt unevenly". The Globe and Mail, January 5, 1991.
  14. Ted Shaw, "Scales of Justice episode shows flip side of justice". Windsor Star, March 16, 1991.
  15. Bob Blakey, "Scales of Justice takes dramatic tilt". Calgary Herald, November 15, 1991.
  16. Jay Scott, "Against interpretation: Scales of Justice proves less is more". The Globe and Mail, February 7, 1992.
  17. Bonnie Malleck, "Champagne and Dubonnet : Scales of Justice re-enacts much-debated 1979 rape trial". Waterloo Region Record, November 14, 1992.
  18. John Haslett Cuff, "CBC series avoids Gangbusters approach: In a TV landscape littered with true crime tabloids and docudramas, The Scales of Justice stands apart in the restrained way it presents the cases it dramatizes". The Globe and Mail, January 15, 1993.
  19. Tom Barrett, "Truscott drama portrays disorder in the court". Vancouver Sun, February 20, 1993.
  20. Tony Atherton, "Oakes murder mystery an alluring TV drama". Ottawa Citizen, October 31, 1993.
  21. Tony Atherton, "Belshaw Affair proves excellent fodder for show". Vancouver Sun, October 29, 1994.
  22. Greg Quill, "The Gamble Tragedy". Toronto Star, February 26, 1995.
  23. Liam Lacey, "Geminis honour hard-edge television Multiple win for war series". The Globe and Mail, March 8, 1993.
  24. "Nominees in major categories for this year's Geminis". Montreal Gazette, January 26, 1994.
  25. "Take your pick - here are the Gemini hopefuls". Montreal Gazette, March 5, 1995.
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