Problem
Verb Tense in Legal Writing
Write the paragraph using the correct tense! Remember the case was decided in the past.
The Supreme Court decides to hear the motion of West Nova Fishermen's Coalition, intervenors, in R. v. Marshall. Donald Marshall, the accused, is a First Nations person who is convicted of catching and selling eels in contravention of federal fisheries regulations. The Coalition was concerned primarily with competition from First Nations people in the lobster fishery and asks the Supreme Court to set aside Donald Marshall's acquittal and instead order a new trial. The Coalition is hoping that the federal government will use the new trial to justify its regulatory regime for the east coast fisheries. The Attorney-general, for the government opposes the request, and the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, dismisses the Coalition's motion.