Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta: Jury Trials 101

Overview

This seminar focused on the fundamentals of jury trials. The program was intended for judges appointed within the last five years.

Objectives

This program provided newly appointed judges with the substantive legal knowledge and practical skills to effectively manage jury trials, touching on pre-trial preparation, jury management, and dealing with issues that can arise during a jury trial.

Summary

Led by experienced judges from the Court who shared their practical insights, through lectures, panels and scenario-based discussions, participants considered: the most effective means of preparing for a jury trial; guiding the jury through the steps of a jury trial; the legal framework around the trial judge’s role during a jury trial; and managing issues that can arise during the trial. Designed to supplement the national training provided by the New Federally Appointed Judges Seminars and the Court’s bi-annual education seminars, this program focused on providing participants with additional information on substantive, procedural and administrative issues.