Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba Education Seminar
This seminar was presented by an experienced faculty of judges, legal academics, and professionals working inside and outside of the legal system. Participants were provided with concrete tools and advice to promote efficient judgment writing and the ability to deliver oral judgments. They explored ways in which judges and courts can better interact with different categories of difficult or abusive litigants. Judges discussed best practices to prepare, manage, and remain resilient when presiding over high-profile trials. A session for General Division judges focused on writing reasons in sexual assault cases and discussed: the impermissible use of common-sense reasoning in assessing credibility; stereotypical reasoning in relation to cross-cultural interpretations of human behaviour; and errors applying W.D. Meanwhile, a session for Family Division judges provided practical approaches to the use parental capacity assessments and culturally based parenting practices. The final session focused on the importance of and need for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Number of Participants: 39
Overview
This seminar focused on developing judicial skills with a direct, positive impact on judicial wellness. It included sessions on efficient judgment writing, oral judgment delivery, managing difficult litigants, and high-profile, emotionally draining cases, the preparation of reasons in sexual assault cases and culturally complex parental capacity assessments. The seminar ended with a session about reconciliation with Indigenous, Metis and Inuit Manitobans.
Objectives
The central objective of this seminar was to bolster practical judicial skills with a direct, positive impact on judicial wellness. These skills included efficient judgment writing, oral judgment delivery, managing difficult litigants, dealing with complex, high-profile cases, avoiding common pitfalls in sexual assault cases, and navigating culturally complex parental capacity assessments. As part of the commitment to reconciliation, the Seminar also incorporated a dialogue on the history, legal processes, and traditions of Indigenous, Metis and Inuit Manitobans seeking to enrich the Court’s appreciation of Canada’s fractured history, enhance its capacity for understanding and mutual respect, and reinforce hope in reconciliation.
Summary
This seminar was presented by an experienced faculty of judges, legal academics, and professionals working inside and outside of the legal system. Participants were provided with concrete tools and advice to promote efficient judgment writing and the ability to deliver oral judgments. They explored ways in which judges and courts can better interact with different categories of difficult or abusive litigants. Judges discussed best practices to prepare, manage, and remain resilient when presiding over high-profile trials. A session for General Division judges focused on writing reasons in sexual assault cases and discussed: the impermissible use of common-sense reasoning in assessing credibility; stereotypical reasoning in relation to cross-cultural interpretations of human behaviour; and errors applying W.D. Meanwhile, a session for Family Division judges provided practical approaches to the use parental capacity assessments and culturally based parenting practices. The final session focused on the importance of and need for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.