Supreme Courts of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island Education Seminar
The seminar began by exploring the phenomenon of intergenerational trauma from the standpoints of neuroscience, the experiences of Black and Indigenous Nova Scotian communities, and that of two judges. Two concurrent sessions then dealt respectively with techniques for distinguishing credible science from junk science, and with natural justice and proportionality issues. A further panel provided guidance on how to effectively conduct credibility assessments and draw inferences in criminal, family, and civil proceedings. The program continued with a presentation on judgement writing, focusing specifically on the issue-driven format and point-first writing. Concurrent sessions followed on private international law, private records in sexual assault cases, and a review of the year’s family law jurisprudence. The seminar ended with a plenary session which explored resilience and improving judicial responses to stress-laden work environment.
Number of Participants: 49
Overview
This seminar covered a combination of substantive, social context, and skill building topics relevant to the work of the judges of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. Senior judges, academics, and professionals engaged in the community delivered presentations, participated in panel discussions, and led problem-solving exercises with participants.
Objectives
The seminar had four primary objectives. First, it aimed to bolster the participants’ substantive law knowledge in the field of criminal, family, and private international law, including a review of key decisions impacting sexual assault and intimate partner violence cases. Second, the seminar aimed to increase the participants’ appreciation of social context through discussions and presentations on issues associated with intergenerational trauma, sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence. Third, the seminar aimed to improve judicial skill-building by reviewing legal factors to assess credibility and to draw inferences; by learning to distinguish between junk science and reliable scientific information; and by improving communication and legal writing skills. Fourth, the seminar sought to promote judicial wellness by exploring strategies to increase judicial resilience.
Summary
The seminar began by exploring the phenomenon of intergenerational trauma from the standpoints of neuroscience, the experiences of Black and Indigenous Nova Scotian communities, and that of two judges. Two concurrent sessions then dealt respectively with techniques for distinguishing credible science from junk science, and with natural justice and proportionality issues. A further panel provided guidance on how to effectively conduct credibility assessments and draw inferences in criminal, family, and civil proceedings. The program continued with a presentation on judgement writing, focusing specifically on the issue-driven format and point-first writing. Concurrent sessions followed on private international law, private records in sexual assault cases, and a review of the year’s family law jurisprudence. The seminar ended with a plenary session which explored resilience and improving judicial responses to stress-laden work environment.