Criminal Law Seminar 2018

Overview

This seminar was designed for judges hearing criminal matters and canvassed recent developments in criminal law with a focus on the challenges for trial judges.

Objectives

The objectives of this seminar were to provide an update on the latest significant criminal law developments and enhance skills in trial management. This program addressed a combination of substantive law, social context issues, and skills development based on a variety of recent and emerging topics in Canadian criminal law. Judges benefited from interacting with criminal law experts to increase their knowledge while developing practical skills.

Summary

Led by experienced judges, legal academics with expertise in criminal law, members of the Bar from both the Crown and Defence and experts in the field, the seminar used a combination of presentations and interactive discussions to cover the following topics: the development and modern context of property crimes, including the collective and use of digital evidence; the implications for criminal law flowing from the legalization of cannabis; legal and practical issues arising with police informants; the law on the use of after the fact conduct to establish guilt; as well as updates on jurisprudence interpreting s. 8 of the Charter, Bill C-75 and civility in the courtroom.

Judicial participants had the opportunity to apply the concepts discussed during the seminar by using fact scenarios, instant response questions and discussion with their peers.