Trevor Farrow
Trevor Farrow is a well-known Access to Justice advocate and researcher who has been pushing forward system change in the justice system via the Canadian Civil Justice Forum, which he heads.
Randi Druzin
Randi Druzin is an author and freelance journalist, who has had her own self-represented litigant journey, and is a passionate advocate for system change. Their conversation opens with Randi asking Trevor, “but isn’t the pace of change glacial?” and they go on to discuss what research can contribute to new ideas and innovations that focus on the users, the role of research, how to get “buy-in” to change from insiders, and continuing prejudices against SRLs.
Related Links
Canadian Forum on Civil Justice
The Cost of Justice Project, 2011-2018 (CFCJ)
In Other News
Katie Pfaff
Guest Other News Correspondent Katie Pfaff focuses on Bill C-3, which requires sexual assault training for new judges, and has now become law; the bill requires the Canadian Judicial Council to report on continuing education seminars offered on matters related to sexual assault law and social context. It also amends the Criminal Code to require judges to state their reasoning for their decision in sexual assault proceedings on the record. Katie also brings us the related story of the federal government’s new multi-million-dollar budgetary commitments to investments promoting women’s socioeconomic equality (including early learning and the childcare system), and a national initiative promoting independent legal advice and representation for sexual assault survivors, and pilot programs for intimate partner violence survivors.
“After 4 years, bill requiring sexual assault training for new judges becomes law” (Global News)
Jumping Off the Ivory Tower is produced and hosted by Julie Macfarlane and Dayna Cornwall; production and editing by Brauntë Petric; Other News produced and hosted by Katie Pfaff; promotion by Moya McAlister and the NSRLP team.
Due to my hearing impairment I have found that I am only able to productively listen to podcasts when I can simultaneously read a transcript. I’ve done that with the ten podcasts found here – https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/our-initiatives/rule-of-law-and-lawyer-independence/rule-of-law-matters-podcast/. I have reason to believe that it was an email from me last August that inspired the idea for these podcasts, and I am pleased to see that they are continuing.
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On another note someone else who had received an email from me last July has contributed an article to The Lawyer’s Daily today – https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/27029/civil-law-handbook-for-self-represented-litigants-step-in-right-direction-jennifer-leitch. I hadn’t bothered to look at the CJC’s advice to SRL’s but I’ve just realized that I should. I’m going to thoroughly read the Civil Law Handbook – https://cjc-ccm.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2021/Civil%20handbook%20-%20English%20MASTER%20FINAL%202021-03-30.pdf – because it looks like I’m going to put in another appearance before a superior court judge (that is unless the other party – the provincial government – decides to respond to me in good faith). With my hearing impairment and the COVID-19 inspired limitations on in-person hearings this venture is going to be additionally challenging. I’ll be looking in the CJC’s handbook for what advice it has for the hearing impaired.
Speaking of tinkering, I want to make note of the latest joint statement by the Minister of Justice and the Canadian Judicial Council. The CJC has responded – https://cjc-ccm.ca/en/news/canadian-judicial-council-responds-proposed-government-reforms-judicial-discipline-process – to the purported initiative announced here – https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-introduces-legislation-to-foster-greater-confidence-in-the-judicial-system-876746703.html. The wording of Bill S-5 spelling out the amendments can be reviewed at https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/S-5/first-reading.
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I haven’t studied it yet but I have concerns already about the intention to have one or more “screening officers” and what they propose to do with “lay persons”. I hope we can rely on some of our MP’s and / or senators not to just roll over and rubber stamp this supposed final solution to what ails the CJC.