Programs for New Judges - Scheduling / Mentorship at the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia 2020-2021
The new judge’s schedule initially requires them to shadow various judges in Halifax with particular attention to areas of the law that are unfamiliar to the judge. For example, a judge who has no practice experience in criminal law will have more time committed to working with senior judges experienced in that subject.
Number of Participants: 10
If the judge is assigned to work in a district outside of Halifax, they are provided a temporary office in Halifax and will spend 6-8 weeks working in Halifax initially, and gradually transitioning to their District so that by the end of this period they will be oriented to both. This is important to ensure the new judge going to a rural area is exposed to their new colleagues and is better prepared for the type of cases they will encounter when they sit on rotation in Districts other than their own.
Our judges are all open and keen to assist new appointees. It is a collegial and hard-working group so new judges learn that they can look to anyone for assistance in any aspect of their new life. That type of personal contact, especially with the judges who conduct the orientation continues indefinitely. It is also important for them to see how even experienced judges rely on their colleagues for assistance and guidance from time to time.
New judges are also assigned a specific mentor. The selection of a mentor is based on shared interests or backgrounds, a personal relationship or a specific skill set that a mentor judge may have to offer.