Social media scrutiny of Ghomeshi trial could lead to legal reforms: researcher

HALIFAX – A researcher studying public reaction to the Jian Ghomeshi case says social media scrutiny of the trial could lead to “crowd-sourced reforms” to how the legal system handles sexual assault claims.

Mary Rolf, a law student at Dalhouse University, presented her findings in a panel at an international law conference in Halifax Tuesday.

Rolf says the high-profile case against the former CBC radio host gave social media spectators a rare glimpse into how the criminal justice system works.

During the February trial, social media sites lit up with hashtags like #Ghomeshi and #IBelieveLucy, spurring a fractious debate about the case and Canada’s sexual assault laws.

Many media outlets live-tweeted the case, with people inside the courtroom responding to social media users’ questions as the trial unfolded online.

Rolf says platforms like Twitter and Facebook take the discussion about reform out of cloistered legal circles and into the public square.

She said the unprecedented engagement in issues surrounding sexual assault represents a shift in Canadian values that could make its way into the law books as a result of mounting pressure for change.

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