SR Vol 27 No 3, July 2009 - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

BRIEFS
Steeves’ ensuing critical examination illustrates Halifax’s response
to crime during a period of social and economic upheaval,
highlighting issues surrounding “the distorted portrayal of
African-Canadian criminality,” he says. It’s also the first research
to examine significant changes in the practice of jury challenges
in Canada during the early 20 th century. But more specifically, it
reveals “a very troubling practice in jury selection that affected
most, if not all, jury trials of African-Nova Scotians in Halifax,
well into the middle of the century,” he says.
The historical issues are worthy of reflection today, by lawyers
generally and criminal law practitioners in particular.
“Legal history not only examines what the law was but it helps
us understand how and why the law has changed over time,”
says Steeves.
The Society’s Race Relations Committee (RRC) agreed – selecting
Steeves for his submission, titled “Maniacal Murderer or Death
Dealing Car: The Case of Daniel Perry Sampson 1933-1935.” It
will appear in the first collection of essays on African-Canadians
and the law, to be published in 2010 by the Osgoode Society for
Canadian Legal History.
“I’m glad that more people will hopefully be able to learn about
the case when it appears,” says Steeves, who is “honoured” by
the award and extends special thanks to Clarke (U of T) and
Professors Blake Brown (SMU) and Philip Girard (Dal), “for their
generous comments during the composition of the paper.”
John Rogers QC, Stewart McKelvey, presents the new award to Professor
Michelle Williams-Lorde, who accepted on behalf of David Steeves.
The 33-year-old lawyer, a member of the Bar in both Nova Scotia
and Alberta, recently moved to Toronto and is developing further
work for publication. He graduated from Dalhousie in May with a
Master of Laws degree. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws degree
from Dal and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and
history from Mount Allison University.
Essays with impact
The new Race and the Law Paper Prize was created
to recognize and encourage outstanding scholarship focusing
on issues of race and law, says Bedford lawyer Barbara Darby.
“We’re delighted that this new initiative provides students with
an opportunity to have their work read by members of the Nova
Scotia Bar,” says Darby, extending thanks on behalf of the RRC’s
paper prize subcommittee to all students who submitted work
for consideration.
“During our evaluation process, the committee members were
most impressed by the calibre and quality of the papers. Each
one offered readers an opportunity to learn something new.”
David Steeves’ essay was a fitting choice for the first annual
award, she adds: “His account of an important moment in Nova
Scotian legal and social history—one likely unfamiliar to most
readers—was both educational and frankly, quite gripping!”
For his part, Steeves is hopeful that the winning papers will be
circulated widely to generate further education and discussion.
“Students at Dalhousie Law School have been doing important
work on issues relating to race and the law for many years, and
will certainly continue to do so,” he says.
“What this award will do, I hope, is challenge students who
normally might not be interested in this area of scholarship to
consider how issues of race have impacted, and continue to
impact, the practice and study of law. This may result in more
papers being written but, more importantly, it will open up a
wider conversation about race among students at the law school,
the Bar, the Bench and the public.”
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