Kent Roach – The Conversation

Demanding the wrongfully accused prove factual innocence is an extremely narrow gatekeeper of justice. (Unsplash)

January 25, 2026

DNA evidence: A double‑edged sword that can actually deny justice for some wrongfully accused

Kent Roach, University of Toronto

Proven innocence is powerful and popular but only provides justice for some.

People cheer after a guilty verdict was announced at the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin for the 2020 death of George Floyd. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

April 20, 2021

George Floyd’s legacy: Derek Chauvin guilty verdicts could spell the end of police immunity

Kent Roach, University of Toronto

In the wake of the conviction of the police officer who killed George Floyd, recent court decisions against what’s known as “qualified immunity” are promising.

Gerald Stanley enters the courthouse in Battleford, Sask., in February 2018 during his trial in the death of Colten Boushie, an Indigenous man. The use by Stanley’s defence team of peremptory challenges produced an all-white jury in his trial. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards

April 2, 2018

A good first step towards diverse, impartial Canadian juries

Kent Roach, University of Toronto

The Canadian government’s criminal justice bill would abolish what are known as peremptory challenges. Here’s why that’s long overdue.

South Australians turned out in numbers to hear the 2008 apology to the Stolen Generations, but a bill before the state parliament fails to live up to the promise of that day. Wikimedia Commons/edna-photos

November 13, 2014

Australian states can do better for the Stolen Generations

Kent Roach, University of Toronto

A bill before South Australian parliament would make it the second Australian state to compensate Stolen Generation survivors and their children. Tangible recognition of their suffering is overdue, but…

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