Diversity Dialogue Recorded Session: Does culture colour our courts? (DIV 102R)

Does culture colour our courts? (DIV 102R) The challenges of the multicultural courtroom

Description:

To qualify for CPD hours, you must read the LSBC rules, which include arranging to watch this recording with at least one member of the law society. The course fee is per person.

Judicial impartiality and cultural sensitivity: a dichotomy? How can judges maintain impartiality and the appearance of impartiality when conducting proceedings so as to assure equality under the law, and remain informed about changing attitudes and values specially when the parties appearing before them come from different cultures?  Are we creating a tiered justice system when we give consideration and deference to these cultural challenges? These and many other questions will be addressed by our distinguished panel on June 2 at 5:30 pm at the Justice Education Society.

Judge Dossa: "Canadian courtrooms reflect the increasing diversity of Canadian society and lawyer and judges regularly face situations requiring cultural competence and fluency. This session will assist in identifying one's own cultural biases and in understanding intercultural communication styles and contextualize the reality of testimony presented  through interpreters in Canadian courtrooms."

William Smart,QC: "As a criminal defence counsel, occasional prosecutor, and former judge, I would like to share with you my perspective on the challenges our multicultural society poses for the Criminal Justice System in Canada."

CPD: 1.5 Hrs and 0 hours PRE (ethics)

Proceeds from this lecture will seed the funding of the expansion of Amici Curiae's Temporary Foreign Worker Uncontested Divorce Project.