Professional Development Program:

Thank you to our sponsors:

  • Avis
  • CBA Financial Services
  • Canadian Bar Insurance Association
  • Dye and Durham BASICS
  • Assessment Rehabilitation Services Inc.
  • Telus
  • Stewart Title Guaranty Company
  • Rogers
  • ERAssure
  • Lex Mundi

1.2 Contempt of Court: A View from the Bench

Presented by the Canadian Judges' Forum

A finding of contempt can arise from a failure to obey a court order, showing disrespect for the judge, disrupting proceedings through poor behaviour, or publishing material likely to jeopardize the trial process.  Our expert panel of judges and senior practitioners will examine the types of conduct that can lead to a contempt of court order and what procedures the judiciary should follow when invoking such an order; how counsel can best represent a client threatened with contempt (and how the situation changes with self-represented litigants); and finally, the differences between a finding of contempt in civil and criminal proceedings. Our panel will be followed by facilitated workshops in which factual scenarios will be analyzed and the right course of action discussed.


Moderator:

The Hon. Michelle K. Fuerst, Superior Court of Justice (Newmarket)


Speakers:

The Hon. Chief Justice François Rolland, Superior Court of Quebec (Montreal)
William (Mick) Ryan Q.C., Stewart McKelvey (Halifax)
The Hon. Jamie W.S. Saunders, Nova Scotia Court of Appeal (Halifax)

Accreditation Details

The time spent attending this program (3 hours) may be applied towards the annual CPD requirement in British Columbia, Northwest Territories, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Ontario. (Please note that these CPD hours are not accredited by the LSUC for the New Member Requirement or the Professionalism Credit.)