Conrad Black and Obstruct justice

Conrad Black will get his terms of release today. He will meet those terms and be released if not today then tomorrow.

Many commentators say this will be the end of prison for Black.

Perhaps, but the obstruct justice conviction remains. And Canada and America have very different approaches to obstruct justice.

In Canada, while very serious, obstruct justice is seen as ancillary to other offences. In America it is often the main offence -- viz Martha Stewart. American sentences for obstruct justice are longer than Canadian -- for Black it was 6 1/2 years.

It may well be the sentence for obstruct justice will be reduced but there is no assurance it will be reduced to time served.