1 00:00:06.710 --> 00:00:12.520 Rebecca Young: Good afternoon. Everyone welcome to today's webinar about the Alberta Court of Justice. 2 00:00:13.040 --> 00:00:22.190 Rebecca Young: We would like to acknowledge the traditional lands and territories of the indigenous peoples who have lived on these lands and have taken care of them since time immemorial. 3 00:00:22.680 --> 00:00:37.650 Rebecca Young: What became known as the Province of Alberta in 19 0. 5, is also the traditional and ancestral home to many indigenous peoples, and for that we are honoured to have shared this land with them, since Treaties 6, 7, and 8 were entered into. 4 00:00:38.140 --> 00:00:43.730 Rebecca Young: Alberta is also the historical Northwest Metis homeland, which includes 5 territories. 5 00:00:44.300 --> 00:00:51.870 Rebecca Young: We acknowledge the many 1st nations Metis and Inuit, who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. 6 00:00:52.370 --> 00:00:59.200 Rebecca Young: We are grateful for the traditional knowledge keepers and elders who are still with us today, and those who have gone before us. 7 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:07.860 Rebecca Young: We make this acknowledgment as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting. 8 00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:12.840 Rebecca Young: I'm Rebecca Young Education counsel with the Law Society of Alberta. 9 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:18.009 Rebecca Young: It's my honor and pleasure to introduce the featured speakers for today's presentation. 10 00:01:18.290 --> 00:01:25.290 Rebecca Young: Before I do that, I'd like to briefly walk us through a few features of the Zoom Webinar software that we'll be using today. 11 00:01:26.150 --> 00:01:32.260 Rebecca Young: A version of this webinar will be recorded and the slides will be posted on our website 12 00:01:32.410 --> 00:01:34.580 Rebecca Young: shortly following today's event. 13 00:01:35.060 --> 00:01:43.750 Rebecca Young: If you move your cursor you will see a task bar at the bottom, and you can use the Q. And a feature to type any questions that come to mind. As you watch the webinar 14 00:01:44.070 --> 00:01:50.059 Rebecca Young: during the last part of the presentation, I will ask as many questions to the speakers as time permits. 15 00:01:50.720 --> 00:02:02.729 Rebecca Young: Finally, on the same task bar, you will see a closed captioning option. This event is enabled for live transcript transcription. So if you'd like to use that, just select it so that it turns on 16 00:02:03.630 --> 00:02:18.979 Rebecca Young: at the end of the webinar. When you close out your window. A brief 2 min survey will pop up. We very much appreciate. If you could complete the survey. It provides us with insight on today's presentation, and helps us to determine future education topics. 17 00:02:19.660 --> 00:02:26.059 Rebecca Young: We will now turn to our featured speakers, welcome Chief Justice Hunter and Deputy Chief Justice Durant. 18 00:02:27.610 --> 00:02:28.600 Chief Justice Hunter: Good afternoon. 19 00:02:30.770 --> 00:02:32.972 Chief Justice Hunter: Thank you all for joining us. 20 00:02:33.630 --> 00:02:35.930 Chief Justice Hunter: perhaps if we can go to the 1st slide. 21 00:02:38.140 --> 00:02:39.050 Chief Justice Hunter: Thank you. 22 00:02:39.350 --> 00:02:53.249 Chief Justice Hunter: Thank you for joining us this afternoon, as was said, my name is Jim Hunter. I'm the Chief Justice of the Court of Justice and Deputy Chief Durant and I will be introducing our court, the judicial officers, and the type of work that we do. 23 00:02:54.350 --> 00:03:01.890 Chief Justice Hunter: The current iteration of what was then known as the Provincial Court of Alberta dates back to 1973. 24 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:07.760 Chief Justice Hunter: At that time it was a court presided over by magistrates and with limited jurisdiction. 25 00:03:08.630 --> 00:03:11.120 Chief Justice Hunter: Today it is a much different court. 26 00:03:11.450 --> 00:03:20.210 Chief Justice Hunter: We sit in 72 locations across the province, from Chate and Fort Chippewan in the north to Pincher Creek, in Medicine Hat, in the south. 27 00:03:20.320 --> 00:03:26.440 Chief Justice Hunter: and 68 other locations across the province for administrative purposes. 28 00:03:26.810 --> 00:03:30.500 Chief Justice Hunter: The provinces divided into various regions and divisions. 29 00:03:30.860 --> 00:03:34.150 Chief Justice Hunter: the regional areas have base courts and then circuit points. 30 00:03:34.490 --> 00:03:38.260 Chief Justice Hunter: Some are quite far flung, and requiring a great deal of travel. 31 00:03:39.420 --> 00:03:46.119 Chief Justice Hunter: The court is composed of more than 200 judicial officers, including J. Ps. And justices. 32 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:53.120 Chief Justice Hunter: each year approximately 500,000 Albertans interact with our court. In some fashion 33 00:03:54.050 --> 00:04:09.969 Chief Justice Hunter: our court has developed a strategic plan, and we do so every 3 years. The current iteration of that plan is can be found on our website. And that sets out our priorities, our goals, and how we hope to achieve them. 34 00:04:15.310 --> 00:04:21.660 Chief Justice Hunter: Our jurisdiction, the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice is actually quite broad. 35 00:04:21.870 --> 00:04:25.260 Chief Justice Hunter: All criminal matters in the province begin in our court. 36 00:04:25.370 --> 00:04:29.689 Chief Justice Hunter: and over 95% stay and conclude in our court 37 00:04:30.290 --> 00:04:33.020 Chief Justice Hunter: civil matters up to a hundred $1,000 limit. 38 00:04:34.250 --> 00:04:38.059 Chief Justice Hunter: We have exclusive jurisdiction over child protection matters. 39 00:04:38.380 --> 00:04:42.060 Chief Justice Hunter: We deal with family matters, excluding divorce and property. 40 00:04:42.790 --> 00:04:44.930 Chief Justice Hunter: We deal with youth, criminal matters. 41 00:04:45.460 --> 00:04:53.600 Chief Justice Hunter: we deal with regulatory matters, and fatality, inquiries and provincial procedures by law and traffic offenses. 42 00:04:54.410 --> 00:04:59.199 Chief Justice Hunter: If a person is appointed in an urban center, such as Calgary or Edmonton. 43 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:05.519 Chief Justice Hunter: You would be in criminal, civil, or family in youth, if a regional justice. 44 00:05:05.750 --> 00:05:11.420 Chief Justice Hunter: your 3 hat, and where and hear cases from all the areas that the court covers. 45 00:05:12.150 --> 00:05:16.590 Chief Justice Hunter: We also have specialized courts that Deputy Chief Durant will discuss later. 46 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:25.810 Chief Justice Hunter: We can go to the next slide. Thank you, are justices of the Peace 47 00:05:26.750 --> 00:05:35.639 Chief Justice Hunter: Jps are for judicial officers who play an absolutely vital role in delivering court services to Albertans. 48 00:05:36.230 --> 00:05:47.649 Chief Justice Hunter: Jps have significant judicial, decision-making authority that has the potential to impact the liberty, the security, and the privacy interests of Albertans. 49 00:05:48.390 --> 00:05:54.299 Chief Justice Hunter: The court is actively looking at ways to increase and enhance the authority and scope of the Jps 50 00:05:55.850 --> 00:05:57.590 Chief Justice Hunter: in terms of appointment. 51 00:06:00.130 --> 00:06:01.920 Chief Justice Hunter: Go to the next slide. 52 00:06:03.260 --> 00:06:04.270 Chief Justice Hunter: Thank you. 53 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:15.500 Chief Justice Hunter: To be appointed as a Jp. It is an application process, and the application process is the same as it would be for a justice. 54 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:26.709 Chief Justice Hunter: The person puts their application in. They go through judicial counsel. If they're recommended or highly recommended, they go to the Alberta Court nominating committee. 55 00:06:26.870 --> 00:06:37.869 Chief Justice Hunter: where again they are interviewed. If they are recommended or highly recommended. They are put on a list where the Chief Justice makes recommendations to the Minister of Justice. 56 00:06:38.050 --> 00:06:43.249 Chief Justice Hunter: It is the Minister of Justice who appoints all judicial officers in Alberta. 57 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:52.020 Chief Justice Hunter: To start with for a justice of the peace, you must have a minimum of 5 years as a practicing lawyer, and be in good standing 58 00:06:52.130 --> 00:06:55.050 Chief Justice Hunter: with the Law Society of Alberta. 59 00:06:56.030 --> 00:07:00.920 Chief Justice Hunter: We have 2 types of appointments. We have full-time and part-time appointments. 60 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:05.040 Chief Justice Hunter: Each appointment is a 10 year tenure. 61 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:08.810 Chief Justice Hunter: with annual extensions for a maximum of 7 years 62 00:07:09.410 --> 00:07:14.450 Chief Justice Hunter: from the after the tenure point you are considered an ad Hoc. Jp. 63 00:07:15.940 --> 00:07:20.790 Chief Justice Hunter: We are hopeful that over the next few months 64 00:07:20.950 --> 00:07:26.860 Chief Justice Hunter: legislation will pass that will change the tenure and 65 00:07:27.010 --> 00:07:31.459 Chief Justice Hunter: excuse me, and the extensions that are authorized through Jp's 66 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:41.750 Chief Justice Hunter: while having some criminal background would be helpful. Initially, it is not a requirement to apply to become a Jp. 67 00:07:42.400 --> 00:07:47.669 Chief Justice Hunter: The court provides excellent training and education for those prepared to work hard. 68 00:07:49.440 --> 00:07:52.469 Chief Justice Hunter: As said an appointment can be to full-time or part-time. 69 00:07:52.730 --> 00:07:58.779 Chief Justice Hunter: and the applicant can specify on their application which that they want to do, that they want to be 70 00:08:00.270 --> 00:08:02.030 Chief Justice Hunter: full-time Jps. 71 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:06.600 Chief Justice Hunter: Work. 5 shifts per week, part-time 72 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:13.190 Chief Justice Hunter: and ad hoc. Once you've passed, your 10 years are not required to work any set number of shifts. 73 00:08:13.570 --> 00:08:16.459 Chief Justice Hunter: but of course, are only paid for those that they do. 74 00:08:19.130 --> 00:08:21.910 Chief Justice Hunter: Part-time are also allowed to carry on up 75 00:08:22.020 --> 00:08:27.270 Chief Justice Hunter: practice, but not in criminal or family matters that would bring them before our court 76 00:08:29.780 --> 00:08:35.699 Chief Justice Hunter: all receive 10 days of education, days per year. 77 00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:45.520 Chief Justice Hunter: the shift differential, which is depending on the the shift that you work. If you're a part timer you're what you're paid varies 78 00:08:45.910 --> 00:08:58.039 Chief Justice Hunter: and all get a $3,500. Professional development allowance for attending at judicial education conferences, access, judicial services, education, planning and research assistance. 79 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:04.519 Chief Justice Hunter: The types of appointment. 80 00:09:09.930 --> 00:09:12.500 Chief Justice Hunter: Again, we have full time. 81 00:09:13.420 --> 00:09:27.920 Chief Justice Hunter: Full time are exactly that as indicated, they work standard 5 shifts a week, but it's not always in the day. They can't work in the weekends, and they can work afternoon or midnight shifts. 82 00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:33.760 Chief Justice Hunter: They get a fixed salary of a hundred $75,000 per year, 30 days, vacation. 83 00:09:34.010 --> 00:09:36.849 Chief Justice Hunter: 13.1% in lieu of the Pension 84 00:09:36.990 --> 00:09:40.829 Chief Justice Hunter: standard Blue Cross benefits. They get an office space. 85 00:09:40.970 --> 00:09:48.169 Chief Justice Hunter: and they may be assigned again to any shift except for statutory holidays, part-time Jps 86 00:09:48.760 --> 00:09:51.829 Chief Justice Hunter: and ad hocs. If you get to that point. 87 00:09:52.250 --> 00:09:59.640 Chief Justice Hunter: earn a shift rate of $1,109 per shift, as calculated by the justice of the Peace Compensation report. 88 00:10:02.160 --> 00:10:08.169 Chief Justice Hunter: The per diem rate includes compensation for benefits. 20% overhead supplement. 89 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:12.080 Chief Justice Hunter: And the below calculation is how that that is calculated. 90 00:10:15.970 --> 00:10:22.469 Chief Justice Hunter: I want to emphasize that this is, and the role of a Jp. Requires shift work 91 00:10:22.690 --> 00:10:25.620 Chief Justice Hunter: that means afternoon and some midnight shifts. 92 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.530 Chief Justice Hunter: The work's demanding and shift work is difficult. 93 00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:33.500 Chief Justice Hunter: Applicants should look carefully at whether they can do the shifts. 94 00:10:33.710 --> 00:10:37.760 Chief Justice Hunter: As for most, it is a significant change from your practice. 95 00:10:38.350 --> 00:10:40.350 Chief Justice Hunter: as you can see from the slide. 96 00:10:42.010 --> 00:10:45.980 Chief Justice Hunter: Full-time justices of the peace again, are exempt from statutory holidays. 97 00:10:46.630 --> 00:10:52.889 Chief Justice Hunter: but our hearing offices run 24 HA day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 98 00:10:53.300 --> 00:10:55.539 Chief Justice Hunter: So that means that there are midnight shifts. 99 00:10:55.850 --> 00:11:05.509 Chief Justice Hunter: shift work outside of standard hours for a full timer. You're at least 25% of your shifts. And for a part timer. You're going to be at least 50% 100 00:11:06.910 --> 00:11:09.150 Chief Justice Hunter: just the next slide. If we could. 101 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:17.540 Chief Justice Hunter: The justices, the peace work out of hearing offices. We have one each. In Calgary and Edmonton. 102 00:11:18.310 --> 00:11:25.649 Chief Justice Hunter: as you can see again, services are available 24 HA day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year 103 00:11:27.420 --> 00:11:34.579 Chief Justice Hunter: the hearing office work that requires a heal that requires a hearing. I, for example, a bail or an epo. 104 00:11:34.780 --> 00:11:36.740 Chief Justice Hunter: is now all done virtually 105 00:11:37.420 --> 00:11:44.020 Chief Justice Hunter: in between hearings, Jps do warrants, and other urgent applications and processes that come before them 106 00:11:45.510 --> 00:11:58.769 Chief Justice Hunter: every month. Approximately 3,300 bail applications are heard in the Hearing office, and every year thousands of warrants and other applications appear in front of the J. Ps. 107 00:11:59.520 --> 00:12:02.960 Chief Justice Hunter: The work is hard, very demanding, and stressful. 108 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:07.799 Chief Justice Hunter: but, on the other hand, it is rewarding and intellectually challenging 109 00:12:09.090 --> 00:12:17.529 Chief Justice Hunter: when not assigned to a hearing office shift Jps can be assigned to provincial offenses, procedures. Court sometimes referred to as traffic courts. 110 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:23.110 Chief Justice Hunter: They will, where they will hear trials on various provincial statute offenses. 111 00:12:23.450 --> 00:12:26.739 Chief Justice Hunter: Some of the matters before them can have profound impact 112 00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:29.060 Chief Justice Hunter: on the litigants in front of them. 113 00:12:29.550 --> 00:12:33.660 Chief Justice Hunter: Jps are truly judicial officers in every meaning of the word. 114 00:12:34.880 --> 00:12:39.629 Chief Justice Hunter: The work concludes, in addition to bail hearings, criminal code warrants. 115 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:50.620 Chief Justice Hunter: urgent applications regarding child apprehension and child protection missing persons, applications, arrest, warrants, summits, and criminal process. 116 00:12:52.090 --> 00:12:54.040 Chief Justice Hunter: The next slide, if we could. 117 00:13:01.070 --> 00:13:09.240 Chief Justice Hunter: Our justices of the peace, as you can see, serve more than 150 law enforcement agencies, child services and social services agency. 118 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:14.970 Chief Justice Hunter: They handle on average about a hundred 30,000 service requests per year. 119 00:13:16.550 --> 00:13:23.649 Chief Justice Hunter: Our Jps also preside in the traffic courts, which are located in 31 locations around the province 120 00:13:24.760 --> 00:13:29.890 Chief Justice Hunter: in Calgary. There's a Criminal Applications Court, which deals with peace bonds 121 00:13:30.130 --> 00:13:34.220 Chief Justice Hunter: and in red deer and grand prairie, where we have Jps. 122 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:40.969 Chief Justice Hunter: They also do civil pretrial conferences, in addition to warrants, bail and other matters 123 00:13:44.010 --> 00:13:52.300 Chief Justice Hunter: this time. I'm going to turn it over to Deputy Chief Justice Durant, who can talk about the justices of our court. 124 00:13:53.680 --> 00:14:17.949 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Thanks very much, Chief, and thank you to all of you for spending your lunch hour with us, learning about our court. We are always happy to share our experience and encourage people who are interested in applying to our court to to think about it. And hopefully, this presentation today will be of assistance. My name is Joanne Durant, and I am currently the Deputy Chief Justice of the Alberta Court of Justice. 125 00:14:18.150 --> 00:14:23.109 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: So just briefly as the chief mentioned in jurisdiction earlier. 126 00:14:23.590 --> 00:14:39.560 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: we sit in 3 different divisions across the province in the 2 larger cities, so Edmonton and Calgary we have specialized civil family and youth and criminal divisions. Outside of those 2 centers all justices sit in all 3 areas 127 00:14:39.560 --> 00:14:57.030 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: because the Calgary Criminal division actually sits in 11 regional courts around the city as well. So Canmore, Didsbury, Siksica, Sutana, come to mind as well. They also occasionally will see family or civil matters, but not as often as our regional justices will. 128 00:14:57.580 --> 00:15:11.969 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: So for a criminal division, we have the criminal rules of court which were created a number of years ago. We're guided by them, and it sets out, sets out timelines for pretrial applications for trials, filing of written notices. 129 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:19.530 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: or materials in advance, to try to efficiently deal with the trial time that we have set aside for particular matters. 130 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:38.250 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Justices, hearing criminal matters, will also deal with bail hearings that have come from the hearing office, fitness, hearings, docket courts, pretrial conferences, case management, applications, or hearings. A case management, justice can be assigned in advance for particularly complex matters 131 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:46.920 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: or lengthy matters to deal with pretrial applications in advance of the trial. They have all of the same authority as a trial. Justice will have. 132 00:15:47.260 --> 00:16:07.439 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: We also deal with preliminary hearings for matters that are set for trial in the Court of King's Bench, and, of course, fatality inquiries along with trials and sentencings. It's extremely interesting work. It's very challenging work, but for those of you the least bit interested, I would encourage you to consider a role as a justice in our court. 133 00:16:07.570 --> 00:16:14.860 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: As the Cj. Indicated, all criminal matters start in our court, and the vast majority of them conclude in our court 134 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.610 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: for civil matters. 135 00:16:16.890 --> 00:16:36.569 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: You've already heard that our jurisdiction is currently $100,000. The procedure is less formal than that within the Court of King's Bench, and as such we have shorter lead times as well. Our justices also case managed matters. They do binding Jdrs. Summary judgment trials as well 136 00:16:36.960 --> 00:17:04.269 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: for family and youth justices. They also, as the chief has indicated, have sold jurisdiction over child protection matters all across the province. They have concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of Kings Bench, and a number of other areas, although, as you've heard. We do not deal with property or divorce. Again, they will deal with pretrial conferences, judicial dispute, resolution, hearings, docket, court bail, hearings, trials, and medical treatment orders 137 00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:09.910 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: next slide, please, Colin, thank you. 138 00:17:10.609 --> 00:17:29.860 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: One of the things that distinguishes us from our colleagues at the Court of King's Bench is that not only do we have specialized courts in the sense you've just heard that some will just do family or some will just do criminal, or some will just do civil matters, but we also have a number of specialized, therapeutic and indigenous courts across the province. 139 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:43.479 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Because we are so unique in that regard. I'm going to spend a little bit of time talking to you about those different courts. So I'll begin with drug treatment courts. The 1st one was established in Edmonton in 2,005. 140 00:17:43.610 --> 00:17:58.519 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: These courts began in the United States, and for those of you not familiar with them, they are now located in many jurisdictions actually around the world, and certainly across Canada. They're very well researched, and they have a strict model of how they run. 141 00:17:58.910 --> 00:18:04.889 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: As I said, the 1st one was in Edmonton. 2,005. Calgary followed, then in 2,007. 142 00:18:05.330 --> 00:18:29.329 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: So this program treats high risk and high needs participants. And what I mean by that is, that most are homeless. When they come before our court they're unemployed. They are suffering from an addiction to a schedule, one substance, a significant rise that we have seen in methamphetamine addiction in the last number of years, although certainly Fentanyl, Ghb. And opioids are very common as well. Still 143 00:18:29.530 --> 00:18:41.610 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: these folks are very entrenched in the criminal lifestyle. They are often committing criminal offenses daily to support their addictions. Most have very extensive criminal records when they enter the program. 144 00:18:41.970 --> 00:18:55.619 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: the program length for the Drug Treatment court is about 14 to 18 months. People interested in participating must apply, and if they are accepted they enter guilty pleas to some of the offenses that they are facing when they come into the program 145 00:18:55.800 --> 00:19:07.570 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: they are usually facing a minimum of one year jail, as by way of penalty if they pled guilty and were sentenced at that time some face up to 6 or 7 years in the penitentiary. 146 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:29.199 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Once they enter the program. They are placed on an extremely strict bail order. They are monitored very closely in the community, and that's so. We can ensure their safety in the community, the safety of the public and the safety of our participants. It begins with the residential treatment component up to 90 days in that residential facility, and after that they attend court weekly. 147 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:48.570 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: They have to attend a minimum of 3 addiction support meetings a week, look and look for and obtain employment, or go to school. We had an individual in Calgary who fell into his addiction between his 3rd and 4th year at the University of Calgary. He completed his 4th year, and went on to complete his master's while he was in the program. 148 00:19:48.870 --> 00:20:05.739 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: They have to obtain stable housing. They are randomly drug, tested a minimum of 2 to 3 times a week. They have individual and group counseling, and they have to attend courses on criminal, addictive thinking and other issues. It truly is an entire lifestyle change from the ground up for them. 149 00:20:06.470 --> 00:20:32.109 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Upon graduation they receive either a 1 day sentence or a suspended sentence and probation. For one year the courts differ across the province with what they impose. On the day of sentencing. Calgary has a probation order that follows the accused for the participant. Pardon me for a year, and that's really to support them. After they graduate in the community the conditions are slowly eased off, but if a relapse occurs, the court is still there to support them. 150 00:20:32.450 --> 00:20:55.439 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: We have an early intervention stream in Calgary that started actually with a private donation. It's a separate stream entirely. Those are folks who are early on in their criminal offending. They may still have a home, they may still have a job. They have not burned every bridge in their life there are different requirements, and these individuals are kept in a separate stream from the high risk and the high needs group. 151 00:20:55.870 --> 00:21:15.179 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Once they complete the entire program. There's a graduation ceremony. Friends and family are invited to attend. I've often presided over those graduation ceremonies where a graduate will actually invite the last police officers to arrest them, and it's to thank them during the ceremony for actually arresting them and putting them in custody. 152 00:21:15.540 --> 00:21:18.620 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: The courts were expanded with Government funding 153 00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:44.730 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: to Lethbridge Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Grand Prairie, and Fort Mcmurray. Discussions have been ongoing for quite some time down in Calgary to create a child Protection, family Intervention Court, which would be an intervention early to assist a family, and parents who are suffering from addiction before a child is apprehended, and that court would ultimately work with the parents and their family. With regard to the addiction challenges. 154 00:21:45.000 --> 00:22:07.810 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: I'll simply say it's 1 of the most fulfilling aspects of the job. If you are actually interested in this type of work and interested in sitting in our specialized courts and for those of you in the cities where those those courts exist. If you're ever having a really lousy day, and you just want some cheering up. You're close to one of those locations. Drop in and observe, it's a very inspiring place to be. 155 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:14.869 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: We also have a Mental Health court. The Mental Health Court was established in Edmonton in 2018. 156 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:35.519 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: We have mental health diversion programs throughout the province. But this is a specific mental health court. Initially, it was set up to try to do a quick fitness. Assessment on individuals, rather than having to adjourn them for 3, 5 days, or longer in custody. Certainly custody is not generally the place 157 00:22:35.520 --> 00:22:48.770 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: for these folks who are suffering from some pretty significant mental challenges or mental health challenges at the time. They're very vulnerable at that particular time in their lives as well. And so, as I've indicated, custody is not generally the best place for them to be. 158 00:22:48.770 --> 00:23:06.720 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: The court is able to do a quick fitness assessment on these individuals. There's a nurse from a forensic assessment and community services there, as well as a psychiatrist. There's immediate access to health information to assist the support workers and the justice as well. In that court 159 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:12.119 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: there are navigators and other agencies associated with the court to assist the participants in this court. 160 00:23:12.170 --> 00:23:19.110 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: and there are currently discussions underway for Mental Health Courts in stony, plain red Deer and Grand Prairie. 161 00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:21.850 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Next slide, please 162 00:23:24.030 --> 00:23:37.690 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: our domestic conflict. Courts were actually some of the 1st courts established in the province, and the one in Calgary is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It still operates daily. 163 00:23:37.750 --> 00:23:58.509 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: We also now have domestic conflict courts located in Lethbridge, Edmonton, and Grand Prairie. There are specially trained prosecutors and intimate partner violence, duty, counsel, police officers, and caseworkers. In these courts. I've mentioned intimate partner violence. But there's also expertise in child 164 00:23:58.510 --> 00:24:13.859 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: and elder abuse matters as well that are looked after in these courts. The model is essentially to try and address these issues as quickly as possible to allow for the preservation of the family unit. If it is safe for that to happen. 165 00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:33.169 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: support is offered for victims and for accused individuals. Many 1st time matters can be addressed and resolved. In this court there's a high percentage of 1st time offenders who don't come back after they have been through this process, and obtain the counseling and services that are available to them when they come into the court. 166 00:24:33.370 --> 00:25:03.170 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: I haven't mentioned it in our slides. But there's also a community court in Calgary that was started by the city of Calgary in partnership with Calgary police service, and a number of other support organizations within the city. It's about to have its 1st year anniversary as well. Our justices of the peace preside in that court, and it has been so successful. It is now expanded from monthly to weekly, and again, I think, could probably sit more frequently than that 167 00:25:03.650 --> 00:25:05.000 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: next slide. Please go on. 168 00:25:06.450 --> 00:25:24.009 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: I'll speak about our indigenous courts as well. This photo is of the indigenous court courtroom, 1,800 at the Calgary Court Center. You'll see it is in the shape of a circle. It's actually in the shape of a teepee. And so the smudge circle is, of course, in the middle of the teepee. 169 00:25:24.010 --> 00:25:41.820 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: All the participants sit in the circle, including the justice, the clerk, the defense, counselor, duty, counsel, a prosecutor, support agencies along with the participant, and if the participant is in custody, the sheriff will be there as well with them. 170 00:25:41.870 --> 00:25:57.060 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: The court begins with the elder lighting the smudge as well as beginning court with a prayer. The elder is there throughout the court morning to assist the justice, but also to assist participants as they come forward as well. 171 00:25:57.480 --> 00:26:12.600 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: So the Calgary, indigenous court opened in September of 2019. Just so that you know the the model is based on what we call a case management table, and that's the same for Edmonton, and it will be the same in Lethbridge as well. 172 00:26:12.600 --> 00:26:28.569 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: All the support agencies that are gathered together to support our court, meet a couple of days in advance of our court day. They discuss the people on the docket, and the various support agencies can indicate what support they can offer to our participants. 173 00:26:28.570 --> 00:26:50.589 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: So we have agencies that address, homelessness, intergenerational trauma, so providing mental health, support, addiction, support. Some of our sunrise healing lodge, other addiction, support agencies are part of that case. Management table employment support is offered in Calgary. Specifically, John Howard society is able to assist with that. 174 00:26:50.590 --> 00:27:14.949 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: We also have native counseling services, who are very important to our court, as well as the indigenous Justice Center in Calgary. This court deals with bail hearings and sentencings. It sits 2 days a week in both of the major urban centers. Again, it could sit more often to serve more people, but at this point we're only able to have the court sit 2 days a week 175 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:19.820 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: because of various resources for all of our partner agencies as well as the court. 176 00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:26.530 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: the participants will work with an elder and the support agencies to create what we call a healing plan. 177 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:38.560 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: The participant will address the areas where they want to work, and those agencies are then put in place to support them while on bail or pending sentence. Should they choose to enter a guilty plea. 178 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:55.789 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: the participant reports to court and updates the court on how they are doing, not weekly. The courts designed quite differently from the drug treatment courts. If the participant is stable and doing well, often the adjournments are lengthier. Coincidentally, I was in 179 00:27:55.790 --> 00:28:17.779 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Calgary indigenous court just a few weeks ago, and I was actually surprised at the number of participants who were given the option not to come to the next appearance if they were represented by counsel, and they were doing well, and they actually the number of them, who said they enjoyed coming to court, and particularly reporting to the justice on how well they were doing, and so they wanted to come back. 180 00:28:17.780 --> 00:28:26.070 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: which was very interesting and and good to hear. Not too many people say they want to come to court more frequently than they're required to 181 00:28:26.080 --> 00:28:31.670 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: when a participant completes the healing plan. We have what's called a blanket ceremony 182 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:58.920 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: to celebrate their success. It's also quite emotional families and support agencies are there to support the participant. The elder wraps a blanket around the participant. They keep the blanket as a recognition of their success, as well as some smudge material that they can take with them and use at home the agency that supports the Calgary indigenous court is the Elizabeth Fry Agency. 183 00:28:58.930 --> 00:29:18.570 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Edmonton opened in February of 2022. It's based on the same model as Calgary. Their support agency is native Counselling Society of Alberta. It sits twice a week, and you'll see that Lethbridge is in the planning stage that we hope will open in October of this year. 184 00:29:19.540 --> 00:29:43.829 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: I'm proud to say that there is an indigenous court opening in Saskatoon shortly based on the Calgary indigenous court model in the Edmonton indigenous court model, and the Chief Justice for Manitoba will be joining the chief and me shortly to observe those courts as well as some of our courts on 1st nations, to see what model we are using, and to take that model back to Manitoba. 185 00:29:44.110 --> 00:30:08.360 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: We also have urban court other than our urban courts. Pardon me, we have several indigenous courts on 1st nation land, so we have Sixica, which is now modeling itself as well after the indigenous courts in the urban centers. With that support agent, those support agencies available to support our participants, we have sutanap peacemaking court as well as courts in Alexis and Chate. 186 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:24.520 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: If we turn to the next slide, please, I want to give special mention to our court in St. Paul called that a healing to Wellness Court. This photo is one of the indigenous dancers who was there at our opening ceremony in June of 2023. 187 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.230 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: This model 188 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:50.899 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: also works on the basis of a wellness plan as opposed to a healing plan, but essentially it is working with the support agencies from the nation and from native counseling services. They plan to expand with native counseling assistance to Cold Lake and Bonneville in very short order. They're a little bit more restrictive on what matters and what types of offenses can go into that court at the moment. 189 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:57.100 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: But just so that you're also aware there are discussions underway for an indigenous court in red deer. 190 00:30:57.770 --> 00:30:59.770 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Next slide, please. 191 00:31:02.270 --> 00:31:24.800 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Some of you may be familiar with the indigenous justice strategy that our court developed. The link will take you there. But it's also located on our court website if you're interested in looking at it. But it sets out the court's responses to the calls to action found in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as the numerous commissions and inquiries that have been done in the past. 192 00:31:24.810 --> 00:31:34.820 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: It's Updated annually to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to better serve our indigenous community members. I encourage you to take a look at what our court is doing. 193 00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:59.890 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Some examples I've listed there include our indigenous shadowing program with justices in our court, indigenous legal career days that are held around the province, and a restorative justice program with the Court of King's Bench. We have partnered with them for all criminal offenses that are available to go through this this program. And again, there's more information on our website. If you're interested in knowing more about that 194 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.610 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: next slide, please, Colin. 195 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:27.019 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: the chief mentioned education and that you don't have to panic if you're interested in being a justice of the peace. If you don't have a background in criminal law, it's it's frankly that goes the same. For whatever your background might be. We have a very robust education program within the court of justice. It's a very important 196 00:32:27.020 --> 00:32:36.240 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: focus for us, and it begins immediately upon your appointment, so a new justice is assigned. The new justice is assigned both a junior and a senior mentor. 197 00:32:36.600 --> 00:32:42.940 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: We have a manager of education who will meet with the new justice and create a five-year education plan. 198 00:32:43.220 --> 00:33:10.940 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: All full-time judicial officers receive a minimum of 10 days of education per year. Once you transition into part-time which the chief will mention shortly. There's 5 days available for you, for education as well. But in addition to that, there are a number of education programs that are run by the office of the chief. So when I say they're run by the office of the chief there, you don't have to use those 10 education days to attend. 199 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:20.699 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: and the education courses are paid for by the office of the chief. So you're not using your professional development allowance to pay for these programs. Either. 200 00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:38.630 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Everyone is encouraged to attend the programs that are run by the chief's office and are fully funded. They're not required to, but certainly we strongly encourage them to. You'll see that there's a mention. I think it's actually on the next page. If we could go there, please. 201 00:33:39.580 --> 00:34:03.099 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: you'll see some of the programs that are offered. And there's a mention of our Betty Ford program there. A very high percentage of those who come before our criminal court suffer from mental health and addiction challenges. And so we looked into this experience with the Betty Ford and our justices, if they're interested in attending, can attend for a week long, very immersive experience. Actually. 202 00:34:03.300 --> 00:34:22.530 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: with a group, you're set up with a group of individuals who are there actually at the clinic for addiction treatment and you participate with them fully. It's a very immersive experience, and is extraordinarily helpful in our day-to-day work. 203 00:34:23.010 --> 00:34:32.520 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: So our associations also offer 2 education conferences per year. These are usually held in either Banmore camp. Pardon me. 204 00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:37.550 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: thank you, and more about. In May of October of each year 205 00:34:37.580 --> 00:35:05.340 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: you probably saw a reference quickly to a boot camp on the early slide. That is a specific session for our new justices and justices. The piece under 3 years of appointment. We also have a full day of education. It's virtually in January for our new justices. It helps them address issues that might be more challenging for them because they have more limited experience. But we also have a very important mentoring component in those as well. 206 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:22.250 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: One of the things that we focus on quite a bit to assist our new justices is how we deal with self-represented litigants or vexatious litigants. As I've indicated, those who have mental health or addiction issues are very common in our court. And so 207 00:35:22.540 --> 00:35:46.780 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: the association runs these conferences, and we have our boot camps in advance. So we acknowledge that certainly the association is very important for education, but it's also an opportunity for judges to be together. Perhaps if you've looked into becoming a judge, you might have heard that at times it can be quite isolating, because in our court we obviously sit alone. 208 00:35:46.780 --> 00:36:04.479 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: and it can be isolating. But the opportunity to spend that time with colleagues and share experiences and know we aren't alone in some of the experiences that we we go through is actually reassuring. And there's certainly many people available at all times for us to reach out to. 209 00:36:04.560 --> 00:36:24.799 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: You'll see a reference to the National Judicial Institute programs. The National Judicial Institute is actually the Education program Canadian education program for federally appointed justices, provincial court appointments from across the province also have access to the seats in many of these programs. And again, you'll see a list. 210 00:36:25.130 --> 00:36:30.819 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: have some of the programs that are available for our justices through the national program. 211 00:36:30.880 --> 00:37:00.849 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Again, we are very focused on education for our justices upon appointment. There's also a period of time for shadowing. So if you come into the court and you're appointed in a criminal division, and you have no criminal experience in your past career. Then you will shadow for a longer period of time in our court, so that you become more comfortable with the procedure as well as the law that will assist you as you go forward in your career. 212 00:37:01.060 --> 00:37:11.389 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: I'm going to pass it over to the Cj. Again. Now to talk about the various ethical principles for judges, as well as how to apply to our court 213 00:37:11.830 --> 00:37:13.299 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: over to you, chief thanks. 214 00:37:13.520 --> 00:37:14.920 Chief Justice Hunter: Thank you very much, Deputy. 215 00:37:15.410 --> 00:37:29.410 Chief Justice Hunter: So the ethical provincial principles for judges. Our court is guided by the Canadian Judicial Council's ethical principles, and if you're interested, you can go on there, and it expresses the vision of what it is means to be a judge. 216 00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:34.349 Chief Justice Hunter: Judges are, of course, independent in their decision-making process. 217 00:37:35.050 --> 00:37:40.670 Chief Justice Hunter: But judges must act with integrity, and treat all those who come before them with respect. 218 00:37:41.550 --> 00:37:48.909 Chief Justice Hunter: Judges must be diligent in doing their work and and getting judgments out on a timely basis. 219 00:37:50.150 --> 00:38:04.830 Chief Justice Hunter: they must maintain their competency at all times, and as deputy just went through the education, there are plenty of opportunities for justices to improve their education and get involved in that on a regular basis. 220 00:38:06.460 --> 00:38:12.880 Chief Justice Hunter: Judges also have to treat people fairly and equally, and they must be impartial at all times. 221 00:38:14.070 --> 00:38:22.489 Chief Justice Hunter: regardless of where you are. When you're a judge, whether you're in the courthouse or whether you're out in public, you are a judge, and you're expected to 222 00:38:22.870 --> 00:38:25.409 Chief Justice Hunter: act accordingly at all times. 223 00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:33.140 Chief Justice Hunter: The next slide please the application process 224 00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:42.199 Chief Justice Hunter: to apply to be a justice. You have to have 10 years or more and be in. Excuse me. 225 00:38:42.310 --> 00:38:44.820 Chief Justice Hunter: good standing with the Law Society of Alberta. 226 00:38:45.800 --> 00:38:48.949 Chief Justice Hunter: you can find the application process on our website. 227 00:38:49.330 --> 00:38:59.109 Chief Justice Hunter: The applicants indicated, or indicate where they're prepared to sit. So what jurisdiction, what area of the of the court? So not only 228 00:38:59.250 --> 00:39:01.830 Chief Justice Hunter: say I want to sit in Calgary. 229 00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:03.399 Chief Justice Hunter: but I want to sit and 230 00:39:03.570 --> 00:39:07.079 Chief Justice Hunter: family and youth, or civil, or the criminal division. 231 00:39:07.740 --> 00:39:10.779 Chief Justice Hunter: Some areas like the Edmonton region 232 00:39:11.380 --> 00:39:14.870 Chief Justice Hunter: you would apply and say, I want to sit in Edmonton region 233 00:39:15.685 --> 00:39:20.569 Chief Justice Hunter: Edmonton region is a 3 half area where you would do all areas of the law. 234 00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:24.170 Chief Justice Hunter: But Edmonton region is also an extremely big region. 235 00:39:24.470 --> 00:39:28.290 Chief Justice Hunter: It runs from Wetasquin to the northern border of Alberta 236 00:39:28.550 --> 00:39:34.960 Chief Justice Hunter: and east to west from border to border, excepting out the areas of Grand Prairie and Peace River. 237 00:39:35.940 --> 00:39:40.200 Chief Justice Hunter: So if you put on something like I want to serve in the Edmonton region 238 00:39:40.865 --> 00:39:46.860 Chief Justice Hunter: Edmonton region is a very big area so you have to keep that in mind. When you apply 239 00:39:48.150 --> 00:39:51.969 Chief Justice Hunter: for a justice applying, there is only full-time initially. 240 00:39:52.680 --> 00:39:55.349 Chief Justice Hunter: If you serve for a minimum of 10 years. 241 00:39:55.610 --> 00:39:58.510 Chief Justice Hunter: and you hit the age of 55 242 00:39:58.750 --> 00:40:02.000 Chief Justice Hunter: you can apply to become a part-time justice. 243 00:40:02.430 --> 00:40:09.859 Chief Justice Hunter: Part-time justices are just that they work half time. They get half the holidays and half the education days. 244 00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:17.416 Chief Justice Hunter: and they're paid partly for the work they do, but part of it they draw on their pension in order to 245 00:40:18.220 --> 00:40:24.180 Chief Justice Hunter: to make up their income, their income would not be the same as a full-time justice. 246 00:40:25.260 --> 00:40:27.740 Chief Justice Hunter: When you make your application and you put it in. 247 00:40:28.130 --> 00:40:31.290 Chief Justice Hunter: the 1st application goes to judicial counsel. 248 00:40:31.870 --> 00:40:38.199 Chief Justice Hunter: Judicial council is made up of the 3 chief judges, or justices of the 3 courts in Alberta. 249 00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:40.510 Chief Justice Hunter: and 2 other lawyers on the panel. 250 00:40:41.020 --> 00:40:48.089 Chief Justice Hunter: This is a shorter interview to try and see if the person has the qualities and background that would make them suitable for the role. 251 00:40:49.370 --> 00:40:52.170 Chief Justice Hunter: Judicial counsel can either highly recommend. 252 00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:55.529 Chief Justice Hunter: recommend, not recommend at this time. 253 00:40:55.650 --> 00:41:01.360 Chief Justice Hunter: or not recommend at all the person that's in front of them. 254 00:41:01.970 --> 00:41:04.530 Chief Justice Hunter: If it's a highly recommend or a recommend. 255 00:41:04.640 --> 00:41:10.119 Chief Justice Hunter: The person can then go on to the Alberta Court nominating committee. 256 00:41:10.920 --> 00:41:13.890 Chief Justice Hunter: That's a larger panel of 10 to 12. 257 00:41:14.990 --> 00:41:20.849 Chief Justice Hunter: The Chief Justice of the Court of Justice sits on that panel, but is not the chair. The chair is a lawyer. 258 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:23.850 Chief Justice Hunter: it's made up of lawyers and laypeoples. 259 00:41:24.380 --> 00:41:26.930 Chief Justice Hunter: The panel is 10 to 12 people. 260 00:41:27.270 --> 00:41:30.359 Chief Justice Hunter: It's a much more in-depth interview. 261 00:41:30.710 --> 00:41:33.730 Chief Justice Hunter: References will have been checked by that time. 262 00:41:34.690 --> 00:41:36.940 Chief Justice Hunter: and it's a more involved process. 263 00:41:37.460 --> 00:41:45.659 Chief Justice Hunter: Again, a person can be either highly recommended, recommended, not recommended at this time, or not recommended. 264 00:41:46.150 --> 00:41:50.279 Chief Justice Hunter: If I highly recommend or recommend, is the result. 265 00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:52.830 Chief Justice Hunter: then the person is put on a list 266 00:41:52.990 --> 00:41:55.730 Chief Justice Hunter: that the Chief Justice can then draw upon 267 00:41:55.900 --> 00:42:00.780 Chief Justice Hunter: to submit names to the Minister of Justice. When vacancies arise 268 00:42:01.100 --> 00:42:05.950 Chief Justice Hunter: again, all appointments are made by the Minister of Justice. 269 00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:09.883 Chief Justice Hunter: and they have the prerogative to appoint 270 00:42:10.650 --> 00:42:16.450 Chief Justice Hunter: from either the names put forward by the Chief Justice, or from other names on the list 271 00:42:19.620 --> 00:42:31.639 Chief Justice Hunter: at the present time we have. There are always vacancies as people go through half time, or they retire. So there are a number of vacancies that we have open at any given time. 272 00:42:32.190 --> 00:42:42.770 Chief Justice Hunter: We have a need for both Jps and justices who are willing to serve in some of the other areas other than the 2 urban centers. The 2 large urban centers. 273 00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:48.650 Chief Justice Hunter: As you can see, the compensation 274 00:42:49.180 --> 00:43:00.730 Chief Justice Hunter: is determined by the Judicial Compensation Commission, which is held every 4 years. Currently, the salary for a line judge is $348,000 a year. 275 00:43:01.100 --> 00:43:05.610 Chief Justice Hunter: There is a pension that attaches to that. There are benefits that attach. 276 00:43:05.920 --> 00:43:17.487 Chief Justice Hunter: There's also support from legal counsel. That. We have legal counsel located across the province as well as Arctic students that help with 277 00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:28.139 Chief Justice Hunter: the work that the justices do. In addition, a full-time justice gets 30 days of vacation in a in a calendar year. 278 00:43:29.300 --> 00:43:39.600 Chief Justice Hunter: There's a long-term disability program. If for any reason, a justice, through illness or injury, is unable to perform their duties 279 00:43:39.770 --> 00:43:43.470 Chief Justice Hunter: after a set period of time is set out in the regulation. 280 00:43:43.700 --> 00:43:47.709 Chief Justice Hunter: they are entitled to apply for and go on long-term disability. 281 00:43:48.210 --> 00:43:54.070 Chief Justice Hunter: Long-term disability pays about 70% of a wage of a sitting justice. 282 00:43:55.260 --> 00:44:02.390 Chief Justice Hunter: The difference in our Ltd program and that of our friends in King's Bench is that 283 00:44:02.610 --> 00:44:07.669 Chief Justice Hunter: if you recover from the illness or the injury, and are able to return to work. 284 00:44:07.870 --> 00:44:12.300 Chief Justice Hunter: you can do so for King's Bench or other federally appointed Courts. 285 00:44:12.450 --> 00:44:17.879 Chief Justice Hunter: If you are out for 6 months you are out, and you cannot return to the bench. 286 00:44:18.740 --> 00:44:25.250 Chief Justice Hunter: We also, as indicated before, offer part-time service at 55 years of age, with 10 years of service 287 00:44:26.850 --> 00:44:32.350 Chief Justice Hunter: next slide, please, before we go to the questions. 288 00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:38.260 Chief Justice Hunter: The deputy and I were asked to touch on the role and what we see as the qualities needed. 289 00:44:38.740 --> 00:44:44.750 Chief Justice Hunter: And I'll start, and then I'll I'll ask deputy to to chime in. 290 00:44:45.940 --> 00:44:51.449 Chief Justice Hunter: Firstly, I want to point out that the job, whether it's a Jp. Or a justice, is very demanding. 291 00:44:52.070 --> 00:44:56.509 Chief Justice Hunter: It is busy requires a willingness to learn and to work hard. 292 00:44:57.370 --> 00:45:02.000 Chief Justice Hunter: The role can be quite isolating and isolated. 293 00:45:02.260 --> 00:45:08.920 Chief Justice Hunter: You are the person that people are looking for to make decisions, it can be extremely isolating. 294 00:45:10.780 --> 00:45:23.859 Chief Justice Hunter: If there's anyone who thinks that, whether as a Jp. Or a justice, that this is a 9, 30 to 4th or 9 o'clock to 4 30 type of position with no weekends. I urge you to rethink 295 00:45:24.800 --> 00:45:28.090 Chief Justice Hunter: the role requires and deserves your time and attention. 296 00:45:29.820 --> 00:45:37.560 Chief Justice Hunter: The job can be not only mentally and sometimes emotionally challenging, and often physically draining 297 00:45:37.910 --> 00:45:41.000 Chief Justice Hunter: in some of our regions, and I mentioned Edmonton region. 298 00:45:41.790 --> 00:45:49.330 Chief Justice Hunter: It is not uncommon to put 40 to 50,000 kilometers per year on your vehicle just for work. 299 00:45:50.270 --> 00:45:54.540 Chief Justice Hunter: Travel in some areas, especially in the winter, can be extremely stressful. 300 00:45:54.970 --> 00:45:58.780 Chief Justice Hunter: In some areas. It is simply not for the faint of heart. 301 00:46:00.390 --> 00:46:07.900 Chief Justice Hunter: When you are on the bench. The job requires a combination of many things, legal knowledge, preparation. 302 00:46:08.820 --> 00:46:12.329 Chief Justice Hunter: knowing procedure and how to manage a courtroom or a trial. 303 00:46:12.630 --> 00:46:16.929 Chief Justice Hunter: The ability to make decisions are just part of the job. 304 00:46:17.640 --> 00:46:19.439 Chief Justice Hunter: You have to be a good listener. 305 00:46:19.790 --> 00:46:22.739 Chief Justice Hunter: You have to have compassion and empathy. 306 00:46:22.910 --> 00:46:27.089 Chief Justice Hunter: because the people we see are usually at a pretty low point in their life. 307 00:46:27.840 --> 00:46:29.740 Chief Justice Hunter: A judge should also be humble. 308 00:46:30.130 --> 00:46:35.440 Chief Justice Hunter: and treat people with dignity, respect, and a measure of kindness at all times. 309 00:46:35.940 --> 00:46:37.620 Chief Justice Hunter: Deputy over to you. 310 00:46:40.410 --> 00:46:56.299 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: I think I should cheer everybody up after the chief was just saying how many thousands of kilometres you might have to drive. If you're in Edmonton region, or other areas of the province, you know, Chief, you've touched on many of the qualities that I had jotted down as as you were posing that 311 00:46:56.510 --> 00:47:02.397 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: certainly you absolutely need to be a good listener. You need to be curious and 312 00:47:02.870 --> 00:47:26.049 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: empathetic, thoughtful, and extremely patient, and the chief's right people come to you as lawyers, because they couldn't solve the problem to start with, and they end up in court because there wasn't a resolution before you brought your clients to us. They're not easy challenges. And then, as I've said earlier, when you're. 313 00:47:26.090 --> 00:47:52.270 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: you know, layering on a lot of emotion, a lot of perhaps some mental health challenges or addiction issues on top of it. It can be a pretty volatile mix at times, but it is an extremely rewarding career. You have absolutely excellent colleagues, and a lot of support within the court itself to assist you. 314 00:47:52.550 --> 00:48:10.790 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Your good days are way better than the ones that are pretty challenging, and I certainly I certainly view it as an extremely rewarding and career, and feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to serve Albertan Britons in the way that I have. So 315 00:48:11.416 --> 00:48:14.180 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: that's, I think, all I would add right now, chief. 316 00:48:15.070 --> 00:48:23.759 Chief Justice Hunter: Thanks very much, deputy, and I would echo those comments. I don't think you'll speak to many justices who would not say it's the best job you could have. 317 00:48:24.170 --> 00:48:28.359 Chief Justice Hunter: It's an excellent, it's an excellent job. 318 00:48:30.740 --> 00:48:48.249 Rebecca Young: Well, with that I want to thank you so much, Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice, for the valuable information you provided. We have a little bit of time and some questions that have come in. So I'm going to start with the 1st 3 questions that specifically relate to justices of the peace. 319 00:48:48.350 --> 00:49:03.749 Rebecca Young: So the 1st question is, considering the increased need for justices of the peace. Is there any possibility of relaxing the 2 year period between when an application may not be successful, and the ability to reapply. 320 00:49:04.180 --> 00:49:16.659 Chief Justice Hunter: We have never visited that question to this point. It's something I could. I would have to speak to judicial counsel, but that has been the policy for 321 00:49:17.440 --> 00:49:18.829 Chief Justice Hunter: a long, long time. 322 00:49:19.807 --> 00:49:25.589 Chief Justice Hunter: We haven't visited that just at this time. 323 00:49:27.190 --> 00:49:33.779 Rebecca Young: And then, in terms of the shifts, so are there set shifts. And if so, what does that look like. 324 00:49:33.780 --> 00:49:38.400 Chief Justice Hunter: Okay? So for shifts there are 3 shifts every day. 325 00:49:38.510 --> 00:49:45.260 Chief Justice Hunter: because we run 24 HA day. It's 8 to 4, 4 to midnight and midnight to 8 o'clock. 326 00:49:45.560 --> 00:49:49.389 Chief Justice Hunter: The midnight to 8 o'clock. Shift does not hear bail 327 00:49:50.029 --> 00:49:53.540 Chief Justice Hunter: but they hear all the other applications, and they do warrants 328 00:49:53.670 --> 00:49:56.980 Chief Justice Hunter: the other 2 shifts. Here bail bail runs. 329 00:49:57.160 --> 00:49:59.950 Chief Justice Hunter: 16 ha day. 330 00:50:00.730 --> 00:50:05.950 Chief Justice Hunter: If you're assigned to a traffic court that is, during normal working hours 331 00:50:07.240 --> 00:50:12.550 Chief Justice Hunter: part-timers full-timers work, 5 shifts a week 332 00:50:13.087 --> 00:50:28.170 Chief Justice Hunter: and, as indicated before, about 25% of those are going to be in off regular hours. It's going to be from the 4 o'clock to midnight, and sometimes the midnight shift and sometimes weekends. 333 00:50:28.350 --> 00:50:33.759 Chief Justice Hunter: If you're a part-timer part-timers, I pick the shifts that they want to work. 334 00:50:34.100 --> 00:50:38.390 Chief Justice Hunter: If you don't want to work for a month. 335 00:50:38.948 --> 00:50:41.579 Chief Justice Hunter: You don't have to stick your hand up. 336 00:50:41.950 --> 00:50:46.880 Chief Justice Hunter: What happens is shifts that are available are put out and part-timers 337 00:50:47.200 --> 00:50:50.370 Chief Justice Hunter: put their their hands up to say, I will work that shift. 338 00:50:50.490 --> 00:50:52.530 Chief Justice Hunter: Most of our part-timers 339 00:50:52.930 --> 00:51:00.989 Chief Justice Hunter: work between 70 and 80% of the of what a full timer works and some work essentially full time. 340 00:51:01.300 --> 00:51:05.080 Chief Justice Hunter: So it it's up to that. Jp. 341 00:51:05.560 --> 00:51:07.690 Chief Justice Hunter: what they they want to work. 342 00:51:08.340 --> 00:51:14.020 Chief Justice Hunter: but it is 8 h shifts, and they can be very intense. 8 h shifts. 343 00:51:16.220 --> 00:51:30.320 Chief Justice Hunter: I said there'd be 3 questions. You. Your recent comments just answered the 3rd question, but there's 2 more, and then I'll jump over to the justice questions. So is there any work that is done remotely for justices of the peace. 344 00:51:31.230 --> 00:51:33.580 Chief Justice Hunter: All of the bail hearings are virtual 345 00:51:34.535 --> 00:51:41.670 Chief Justice Hunter: we are looking at having virtual traffic. But it's 346 00:51:42.940 --> 00:51:49.352 Chief Justice Hunter: well, it's a technologically challenging thing that we have to get over 347 00:51:51.400 --> 00:51:56.606 Chief Justice Hunter: Most of the applications for epo's the like are all 348 00:51:59.489 --> 00:52:07.880 Chief Justice Hunter: are all virtual. We we do have in some of our more remote locations. We have Jps appear virtually for 349 00:52:08.470 --> 00:52:15.470 Chief Justice Hunter: for matters saying up in the North in Fort Mcmurray, or things like that just because of the travel. 350 00:52:17.620 --> 00:52:31.889 Rebecca Young: And then last question on justice of the piece. But I suppose it could relate to justice as well is the question of when we say, 5 years or 10 years experience does that include Canadian experience, or also international legal experience? 351 00:52:32.581 --> 00:52:34.688 Chief Justice Hunter: Actually, if we looked at this 352 00:52:35.390 --> 00:52:40.020 Chief Justice Hunter: it, it says, for justice, the peace. It says, 5 years at the bar. 353 00:52:41.216 --> 00:52:51.280 Chief Justice Hunter: So it, it would seem to cover experience in any location where you are 354 00:52:52.420 --> 00:52:57.510 Chief Justice Hunter: you've practiced, but you need to be in good standing with our law society. 355 00:52:59.270 --> 00:53:18.780 Rebecca Young: Okay, thank you for that. So, moving on to the justice questions, there's a few questions that we might lump together in terms of what the process actually looks like in time for timeline. So from the time you submit it to the time you might hear back, could you give a little more information about what could be expected. There. 356 00:53:19.910 --> 00:53:24.559 Chief Justice Hunter: Sure for people that submit for judicial counsel. 357 00:53:25.121 --> 00:53:32.788 Chief Justice Hunter: We try and hold judicial counsel once every 6 to 8 weeks, and we run through 358 00:53:33.660 --> 00:53:36.669 Chief Justice Hunter: about 8 applications at a time. 359 00:53:37.830 --> 00:53:46.089 Chief Justice Hunter: Once it goes on and the court controls that process the Chief Justice controls that process. 360 00:53:46.310 --> 00:53:49.429 Chief Justice Hunter: The nominating committee, which is the second step 361 00:53:50.251 --> 00:53:54.109 Chief Justice Hunter: only does 5 interviews at a time. 362 00:53:54.270 --> 00:54:02.839 Chief Justice Hunter: and once every couple of months, and the court doesn't control that process that's controlled by that committee. 363 00:54:03.715 --> 00:54:08.750 Chief Justice Hunter: So you may see. If you put your application in. You may see judicial counsel. 364 00:54:10.420 --> 00:54:11.570 Chief Justice Hunter: Within 365 00:54:11.990 --> 00:54:24.049 Chief Justice Hunter: in a relatively short time, but I can't speak to how long it would be before you would get on to the nominating committee, although I think they try and get everyone on, you know. 366 00:54:24.210 --> 00:54:26.629 Chief Justice Hunter: within a year of the application. 367 00:54:29.440 --> 00:54:34.249 Rebecca Young: So there were a couple of similar questions in terms of whether 368 00:54:34.470 --> 00:54:50.429 Rebecca Young: it's best practice to apply right when you meet the minimum requirement versus waiting a little longer. A lot of the justices in particular, are generally at the 20 year mark or more, but not always. And so I think a couple of the viewers are looking for some guidance around that. 369 00:54:51.190 --> 00:54:52.757 Chief Justice Hunter: You know, if if 370 00:54:55.540 --> 00:55:00.880 Chief Justice Hunter: realistically, if if you've got 10 years in and you're 35 years of age 371 00:55:01.716 --> 00:55:07.969 Chief Justice Hunter: unless you have accomplished a great deal in that time, and at that age 372 00:55:12.340 --> 00:55:16.150 Chief Justice Hunter: usually it it it's that's too soon. 373 00:55:16.550 --> 00:55:24.860 Chief Justice Hunter: There's still a lot of practice to do. There's still a lot of seasoning. There's still a lot of of things to do in your in your life that may get you there. 374 00:55:25.690 --> 00:55:30.590 Chief Justice Hunter: That's not to say it. It it can't happen 375 00:55:31.870 --> 00:55:36.150 Chief Justice Hunter: right at the 10 year, mark you, are I 376 00:55:36.830 --> 00:55:44.980 Chief Justice Hunter: again you you would have to be to stand out in some way, in some fashion for that to 377 00:55:45.400 --> 00:55:46.370 Chief Justice Hunter: to occur. 378 00:55:48.315 --> 00:55:59.270 Rebecca Young: And then there were a couple of questions in terms. If you get a not recommended outcome for the application. Does that mean that you're barred from ever applying again. 379 00:55:59.270 --> 00:56:04.630 Chief Justice Hunter: You can apply again after the 2 year waiting period. If you wish to do so. 380 00:56:06.730 --> 00:56:16.720 Rebecca Young: If a person was primarily interested in a specialized court, would they only be assigned to that court, or would they expect it to be moved elsewhere as needed. 381 00:56:16.920 --> 00:56:46.910 Chief Justice Hunter: No, and I'll let deputy speak to this as well. But when you're appointed to our court, you are appointed to the criminal division in Calgary or Edmonton, or a General Court. You are not appointed to those specialized courts. When you get there you can stick your hand up and say, I want to sit there and we appreciate that. And we we encourage people to do that. But you are not appointed simply to that court 382 00:56:47.160 --> 00:56:49.159 Chief Justice Hunter: deputy. Any input. 383 00:56:49.290 --> 00:57:11.010 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Just simply that the specialized courts don't sit in every every day, in every jurisdiction. So in I'll speak to Calgary, because that's what I'm most familiar with. Wednesdays and Fridays are indigenous. Court Thursdays is our drug treatment court, so you would be assigned to do something Monday and Tuesday as well in courts that aren't necessarily specialized courts, but 384 00:57:11.290 --> 00:57:23.899 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: certainly, if people are interested, we very much encourage it. They have an opportunity to come and shadow to see what it is actually like, because those courts are quite different from our traditional courts, and to see if that is a fit for them. 385 00:57:23.910 --> 00:57:42.650 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: and if they are interested after they've shadowed and spoken to the judges who are assigned. We generally have a fixed roster for a period of time, and that's not because we want to exclude other judges from coming into it. It's simply because those specialized programs you actually get to know the participants very, very well. 386 00:57:42.800 --> 00:58:02.650 Deputy Chief Justice Durant: Part of the success of those programs is being able to work consistently with 2 or 3 judges at a time, not 25, or 30, and so generally you will sit in there for a fairly lengthy period of time, and then, when you're ready to come out, if you want to come out, or somebody else wants to come in, there'll be a transition out. 387 00:58:04.946 --> 00:58:13.269 Rebecca Young: We have a few follow ups on the remote comments for justices of the peace. When we say, remote is that remote from home, or remote from the courthouse. 388 00:58:13.270 --> 00:58:17.790 Chief Justice Hunter: Remote from the courthouse. We don't justice of the peace don't work from home. 389 00:58:20.905 --> 00:58:41.579 Rebecca Young: I will apologize now to everyone so many questions. They are coming in furious and fast, and we have 2 min left, so I will try to find one more that might be about other topics that was discussed. So are you aware of any plans to increase the limit that civil courts can hear. 390 00:58:42.070 --> 00:58:54.839 Chief Justice Hunter: The legislation allows for the the limit to be increased to $200,000. But there are no plans at this point in time to do so. 391 00:58:57.240 --> 00:59:21.460 Rebecca Young: Well, we will leave it here to make sure that we end on time. We know everyone has busy schedules. We so appreciate everyone for joining us for today's webinar, and hope you took away some valuable information as noted. A version of this webinar will be recorded and posted on our website. And please try to complete that survey if you can, to give us the insight that is so helpful to hosting these type of webinars. 392 00:59:21.830 --> 00:59:24.899 Rebecca Young: Thanks again, everyone, and hope you have a great day. 393 00:59:26.420 --> 00:59:28.069 Chief Justice Hunter: Thank you. Take care! Bye-bye.