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Training that never stops

For the sake of transparency, since 2018, the Council annually publishes a list of courses and seminars available during the previous fiscal year. The following is a list of courses, seminars and other learning activities attended by federally appointed judges to continue their learning and enhance their knowledge.

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Programs (66)
  • November 14 2023 - November 14 2023

    Criminal Appellate Practice for Trial and Appellate Judges: Standard of Review and Beyond

    Using a combination of lecture-based presentations, panel discussions, and interactive elements, participants learned from experienced judges and other leading experts about how to effectively resolve questions relating to standard of review, remedies, appellate review in sexual assault proceedings, and current and contentious issues in criminal law appeals.

    View more - Criminal Appellate Practice for Trial and Appellate Judges: Standard of Review and Beyond
  • November 23 2023 - November 23 2023

    WRITING REASONS IN SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES

    An inquiry into the history of sexual assault cases in the Canadian criminal justice system points to a system wrought with biases, stereotypes and prejudices. Only in the last few decades did the law begin to swiftly progress. Because of this progression, courts across Canada have identified many stereotypes that live in the minds of decision-makers, including judges and juries, which are now prohibited from relying on when making decisions. As the law has developed protections against stereotypes, the social climate has adjusted so that blatant and common stereotypes are less and less common. CIAJ has been teaching Judgment Writing for 40 years now (a four day functionally bilingual seminar for judges who wish to improve their understanding of the principles of effective judgment writing and their ability to put them into practice). Throughout the years various challenges have arisen in the courtrooms. The assessment of credibility in sexual assault cases is one that is often stated as one of the most difficult one to tackle. Given CIAJ and its experts’ vast experience in judgment writing, CIAJ has decided to develop a one-day seminar to address this particular issue. The program, intended for judges, includes plenary sessions, small-group workshops and time devoted to drafting reasons. 6 Members of the judiciary will benefit from this seminar by learning and improving their writing skills when writing such reasons. They will receive expert feedback from the speakers and the experienced judges working with us. This seminar is conceived by CIAJ faculty to help judges improve their writing skills and their reasons in complex cases. After the first iteration of the program, the curriculum will be evaluated to improve it and make it accurate to today’s judicial needs and changes.

    View more - WRITING REASONS IN SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES
  • March 12 2024 - April 29 2024

    Northern Courts Education Seminar

    Led by experienced judges and leading academics, this seminar used a combination of lectures, discussions and an off-site visit as means for judges to increase knowledge in substantive criminal and family law matters, to enhance judgment writing skills, and to explore and learn more about the social context of northern indigenous communities. Participants were provided with an in depth overview of recent developments in Canadian law on sexual offences, including the law related to third party records applications and records in the possession of the accused; other sessions examined the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the challenges associated with electronic evidence in court, and social media evidence in particular. Judges were provided guidance about crafting concise, sufficient, and accessible reasons, and a multi-disciplinary panel guided participants through the multiple normative orders of the Canadian legal landscape, with specific reference to Indigenous legal orders in the northern territories. The seminar concluded with a visit to a local wellness camp for a session led by local Indigenous elders.

    View more - Northern Courts Education Seminar