Skip to main content

Case information

Conduct a refined search of the Supreme Court of Canada database to obtain details on the status of a matter before the Court.


41584

His Majesty the King v. Dillon Whitehawk

(Saskatchewan) (Criminal) (By Leave)

(Publication ban in case)

Docket

Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.

List of proceedings
Date Proceeding Filed By
(if applicable)
2025-03-28 Close file on Leave
2025-03-27 Copy of formal judgment sent to Registrar of the Court of Appeal and all parties
2025-03-27 Judgment on leave sent to the parties
2025-03-27 Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal, The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan, Number CACR3592, 2024 SKCA 95, dated October 9, 2024, is dismissed.
Dismissed
2025-02-10 All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court
2025-01-29 Certificate (on limitations to public access), 23B His Majesty the King
2025-01-29 Applicant's reply to respondent's argument, (Book Form), Completed on: 2025-01-29, (Printed version filed on 2025-01-31) His Majesty the King
2025-01-20 Certificate (on limitations to public access), (Letter Form), 23B, (Printed version filed on 2025-01-22) Dillon Whitehawk
2025-01-20 Certificate (on limitations to public access), (Letter Form), 23A, (Printed version filed on 2025-01-22) Dillon Whitehawk
2025-01-20 Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2025-01-20, (Printed version filed on 2025-01-22) Dillon Whitehawk
2024-12-09 Letter acknowledging receipt of a complete application for leave to appeal, File open
2024-12-09 Certificate (on limitations to public access), 23B
Need amended version (rec'd 2024-12-10)
, (Printed version filed on 2024-12-09)
His Majesty the King
2024-12-09 Certificate (on limitations to public access), PUB BAN
23A
Need amended version (rec'd 2024-12-10)
, (Printed version filed on 2024-12-09)
His Majesty the King
2024-12-09 Application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2024-12-09, (Printed version filed on 2024-12-09) His Majesty the King

Parties

Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.

Main parties

Main parties - Appellants
Name Role Status
His Majesty the King Applicant Active

v.

Main parties - Respondents
Name Role Status
Whitehawk, Dillon Respondent Active

Counsel

Party: His Majesty the King

Counsel
Anthony B. Gerein, K.C.
Attorney General for Saskatchewan
300 - 1874 Scarth Street
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 4B3
Telephone: (306) 787-5490
FAX: (306) 787-8878
Email: tony.gerein@gov.sk.ca
Agent
D. Lynne Watt
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
160 Elgin Street
Suite 2600
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1C3
Telephone: (613) 786-8695
FAX: (613) 788-3509
Email: lynne.watt@gowlingwlg.com

Party: Whitehawk, Dillon

Counsel
Thomas Hynes
Zachary Carter
Pfefferle Law Office
211 – 21st Street E.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 0C1
Telephone: (306) 370-5516
FAX: (866) 869-2959
Email: thomas@pfefferlelaw.com

Summary

Keywords

Criminal law — Jurors — Challenges for cause — What proof is required and what is the test for determining whether instructions from the trial judge and normative jury trial safeguards are not sufficient to overcome the possibility that prospective jurors harbour a bias that would influence the decision-making process thereby justifying the challenge for cause process in s. 638(1)(b) of the Criminal Code? — Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46.

Summary

Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.

(PUBLICATION BAN IN CASE)

Following two drive-by shootings, Mr. Whitehawk was charged with two counts of first degree murder. The Crown’s theory is that Mr. Whitehawk is a member of the Indian Mafia street gang and the shootings were gang-related. Mr. Whitehawk applied to challenge jurors for cause. The trial judge allowed the application in part, substituting one question for four proposed questions. A jury convicted Mr. Whitehawk on both counts of first degree murder. The Court of Appeal allowed an appeal and ordered a new trial.

Lower court rulings

March 31, 2022
Court of Queen’s Bench of Saskatchewan

2022 SKQB 94

Application to challenge potential jurors for cause granted in part

April 23, 2022
Court of Queen’s Bench of Saskatchewan


Convictions by jury on two counts of first degree murder

October 9, 2024
Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan

2024 SKCA 95

Appeal allowed, convictions set aside, new trial ordered

Memorandums of argument on application for leave to appeal

The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filing out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

Factums on appeal

The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

Webcasts

Not available.

Date modified: 2025-03-29