About this Event
This panel will consist of judges from both levels of trial court in Ontario, a crown lawyer and defence counsel.
The session intends to cover ethical and professional responsibilities in dealing with instructions from clients on pleas, how they want to proceed with their sentencing and how to present to the court. Despite counsel being aware of advantages in presenting mitigating factors to the court, clients may not want to disclose their private trauma - counsel are ethically bound to maintain privilege. Similarly, to determine certain facts, all participants need to be cognizant of the different socio-economic needs of clients, including the management of difficult clients. All of these factors play a role in what can be presented on a sentencing hearing and ultimately, can impact a client’s life significantly in terms of sentence. The panel will discuss conducting effective interviews so counsel can learn how to get out information that individuals may have suppressed or felt was irrelevant.
The panel will also discuss how to best approach a sentencing hearing with an unrepresented litigant, how to approach negotiating an agreed statement of fact, the conduct of Gardiner hearings and whether counsel should be contemplating any reports to support their sentencing submissions (IRCA reports, Gladue reports, psychiatric reports) and how to be use such reports. The panel will also discuss the importance of conducting a comprehensive plea inquiry.
Panel coming soon.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
VERITY: Toronto Women's Club, 111D Queen Street East, Toronto, Canada
