Facing a probe, this Supreme Court justice called it quits

Plus, an acquittal in a 20-year-old manslaughter case and TDSB swimming lessons [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the Supreme Court justice who quit, the man acquitted of manslaughter and TDSB’s swimming program. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld federal politics [Supreme Court Justice Russell Brown has retired early, ending a probe into alleged drunk and obnoxious behaviour]( Russell Brown, 57, continuously denied the allegations about drunk and obnoxious behaviour that prompted a disciplinary probe against him. Now, he has quit — marking the first time a Supreme Court judge has quit amid a formal inquiry into alleged improper conduct. The move opens a spot on the Supreme Court, giving the prime minister an opportunity to appoint his sixth judge. [Tonda MacCharles reports on Brown and the public complaint against him](. - Context: Brown was appointed just before the 2015 election by then prime minister Stephen Harper. For the past eight years, he held one of two western seats on the nine-member court. - Word from Brown: In a written statement, Brown cited “significant strain” on him and his family, as well as the lengthy investigation’s impact on the high court’s caseload. Facing accusations that he behaved inappropriately, harassed women and attacked a man at an Arizona resort in January, he said he is innocent, and cited evidence that he said would have cleared his name. Richard Lautens/The Star courts [He was convicted of killing his partner’s child more than 20 years ago — now he’s been acquitted]( Bernard Doyle — acquitted of manslaughter charges in the 1996 death of a 17-month-old boy — has won his battle to clear his name, Rachel Mendleson writes. His conviction had been based, in part, on evidence from the disgraced pathologist Charles Smith, and his case was singled out for re-examination by a government-commissioned review of shaken-baby convictions in Ontario. [Here’s what you need to know about the case and the review](. - Context: Doyle was home alone with the boy when the child suffered his injuries. His lawyer told the appeal court that the man had been dancing with the boy in his arms when he tripped and the two fell onto roofing equipment that had been left on the floor. - Word from the lawyer: The lawyer representing Doyle in his appeal described the “immense and agonizing guilt” Doyle felt after the boy’s death, but said, “There was no offence in this case at all.” - Go deeper: The appeal court made its decision after reviewing fresh evidence from four experts who agreed a “complex fall” could explain the boy’s injuries, court documents show. Lance McMillan/The Star education [TDSB swimming programs are a lifeline for hundreds of students — but a board snafu has put them at risk]( Swimming is the highlight of 10-year-old Ariel Rahman-Flake’s week. “She’s like a fish,” her mom says. But the swimming program at her school and several others are facing cuts after the Toronto District School Board reduced the number of aquatics instructors without realizing it would also affect classes. Today, a trustee plans to present a motion to keep current programming afloat. [Isabel Teotonio reports on the “financial reality” and “very tough decisions” to come](. - The aftermath: Community members from the affected schools, including young children, have made impassioned pleas at TDSB meetings, asking trustees to maintain current levels of programming. - By the numbers: Trustee Shelley Laskin will propose that TDSB pause the current reduction of swim instructors from 93 to 80, which affects hundreds of students at 20 schools. She will also request the reinstatement of six instructors — at a cost of $400,000 — to ensure all schools have full programming next year. [Next Up] There’s a new way to end your day with the Star. Our new nightly newsletter, Next Up, is your can’t-miss way to keep up with all of the latest developments everywhere from city hall to the Greenbelt. Every evening, it’ll give you the newest updates on the day’s top stories — plus what to expect tomorrow. [Sign up for free here](. WHAT ELSE In his final House speech, Erin O’Toole [warned MPs they’re on a dangerous path of polarization and virtue signalling](. A poll shows a front-runner has emerged in the Liberal leadership race. [Here’s why “it’s a real challenge for the other candidates.”]( With Olivia Chow’s solid lead, the question for rivals is: [what’s the next move?]( Toronto mayoral candidates are attacking Doug Ford. [But how far will that take them?]( Toronto election reality check: [Here’s how the top mayoral candidates would fix the TTC — and what the experts say](. Despite downtown construction, Toronto has lost housing units over five years. [This report explains how](. The disgraced former York Catholic teacher who sent inappropriate texts to students has been [found guilty of sexual misconduct](. These much-needed housing units are sitting in storage more than two years after they were approved — [the fight should be a mayoral election issue](. With 37 criminal counts, seven deadly sins and plenty of Miami vice, [here’s what to take away from Donald Trump’s indictment](. They both hate the West, but they also hate each other. [Here’s how Iran and the Taliban’s uneasy partnership works](. Tuesday is Nordstrom’s last day in Canada. [This is a timeline of its failed Canadian venture](. Apple is finally fixing its “ducking” autocorrect problem. [This is what comes next](. GET THIS Toronto Star [Homeless encampments are growing again in Toronto. Here’s why — and by how much — they’ve increased in the last year.]( CLOSE-UP Odelyn Joseph/AP Photo HAITI: Siblings Mylouise Veillard, left, and Myson were left at an orphanage as young children, as their mother hoped they would have a better life. Approximately 30,000 Haitian children live in private orphanages where reports say forced labour and abuse are rampant. [Now officials want to shutter them and reunite families](. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_186435). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. BEST OFFER OF THE YEAR Get unlimited access to the Star: $3.33/month for 12 months [Get This Offer]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. 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