Oral Judgments 2022

Overview

This seminar focused on delivering oral judgments. Developed in collaboration with experienced judges, academics and other experts, this program helped participants practice how to better structure their oral judgments, to organize the evidence and law before and during a hearing, and to communicate effectively.

Objective

The objectives of the seminar were to improve participants’ skills structuring a judgment (making it direct, concise and easy to follow), preparing effectively to deliver oral judgments, making and explaining credibility findings using oral reasons, and delivering clear oral judgments.

Summary

This seminar applied an experiential skills-based approach to teaching oral judgment skills to participants. Throughout the seminar, short lectures from experienced judges and communication experts taught the core advanced skills involved in structuring and delivering effective oral judgments. These lectures were supplemented by intensive small group work, in which judges had the opportunity to practise these skills and to receive individualized feedback both from their peers and from trained facilitators. The program ended with participants delivering a full oral judgment, which was followed by feedback.