Ideas Searching for Truth: The Honourable Louise Arbour
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Jan 17, 2025 
In this enlightening discussion, former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour shares her insights on the intricate balance between truth and justice in criminal trials. She explores the implications of evidence rules and the moral weight of the presumption of innocence. Arbour also delves into the challenges posed by misinformation and AI’s potential role in the legal system. Additionally, she examines the delicate tension between justice and peace in international law, and the evolving narrative of women's rights against political obstacles.
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Truth's Elusive Nature
- Louise Arbour discusses the increasing difficulty of discerning truth from falsehood, highlighted by a Canadian government report.
- This challenge impacts various fields, including the justice system, especially jury duty.
Criminal Trials and Truth
- Criminal trials aren't a philosophical search for truth, but a process where prosecution proves allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Rules discard irrelevant info and protect against biases to ensure a just outcome.
Hearsay Example
- Arbour explains the hearsay rule with an example: relaying one's birthday is hearsay, yet trusted.
- Hearsay's trustworthiness depends on the source and context, unlike in trials.