CLE Online

Welcome and Introduction

Nicole J. Gregoire — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver
Mark R. Jetté — Sutherland Jetté, Vancouver

New Provincial Court Rules and Practice

• Provincial Court Scheduling Project—history, overview, and major changes
• practical application of the rules
• case management responsibility, appearances, time frames
• court’s expectations of counsel

The Honourable Associate Chief Judge Nancy N. Phillips — Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver
Richard J. Browning — Browning, Dunne, Soga, Ray & Ng, New Westminster
Peter A. Juk, QC — Director Appeals & Special Prosecutions, Crown Law Division, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver

Crown/Defence Liaisons: “Before the Charge is a Charge”

• how to prepare for a discussion with Crown Counsel before your client is formally charged
• information you must know before you approach the Crown (Crown policies and procedures)
• know what the Crown needs to know and know how to get that information to the Crown
• limitations on disclosure before a charge is approved

Michael P. Klein — Michael Klein Law Corporation, Vancouver
Gerri-Lyn Nelson — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver
Maggie Loda — Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Vancouver

Networking Break

Judicial Interim Release: In Court and On the Phone

• compelling appearance—forms of release and their impact on your client
• behind the scenes and center stage of a show cause hearing: everything you need to know about judicial interim release but are afraid to ask
• know what the Court needs to know in a contested show cause hearing and how to make the most out of the least
• after hours bail: how to prepare for the after hours telephone show cause hearing; when might a telephone bail hearing make the most sense for your client?

The Honourable Judge James D. Bahen — Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver
Her Worship Anna Maya Brown — Justice Center, Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver
Georgia Docolas — Docolas Law Corporation, Surrey
Michelle Wray — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Surrey

Preliminary Inquiries: “The Paper Hearing”

• the “paper record”: the practical implications of s. 540(7)
• the residual discovery function of a preliminary inquiry
• is the preliminary inquiry a Charter free zone?
• the “right” to call witnesses under s. 541(5)
• the proper use of the focus hearing function
• applications to cross-examine Crown witnesses pursuant to s. 540(8)

The Honourable Judge Melissa A. Gillespie — Provincial Court of BC, Surrey
Neil L. Cobb — Cobb St. Pierre Lewis, North Vancouver
Maggie Loda — Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Vancouver
Geordie Proulx — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver  

Networking Lunch

Trial Practice: Nuts and Bolts

• trial preparation—best practices
• ongoing disclosure and Crown and defence discussions
• admissions
• document notice, experts, and expert notice
• pre-trial conference(s)
• voir dires
• exhibits
• photographic and electronic evidence
• difficult witnesses for Crown and defence (mental health issues, recanting witness, and more)
• witness/client attire and demeanor
• opening and closing submissions

The Honourable Judge Joseph F. Galati — Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver
Daniel L. Mulligan — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver
Phillip A. Riddell — Phillip A. Riddell Law Corporation, Port Coquitlam

Sentencing: Contested to Joint Submissions

• practical considerations: how to present
• establishing the facts
• pre-sentence reports and psychiatric assessments
• resolution discussion and joint submissions: how to give the Court what they need
• ancillary orders
• sentencing grab bag: parity, proportionality, totality, joint endeavours, consecutive vs. concurrent, step up and  gap principles, the “range”, pre-trial remand, and “dead time”

The Honourable Judge Reginald Harris — Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver
Troy D. Anderson — Barrister & Solicitor, New Westminster
J. Brian MacFarlane — Administrative Crown Counsel, Ministry of Justice, North Vancouver

Networking Break

Sentencing: First Nations Courts

• First Nations sentencing issues
• know how files get into the FNC, and what the prerequisites are
• application to more serious offences or to files which have not found their way to the FNC

The Honourable Judge Marion R. Buller Bennett — Provincial Court of BC, Port Coquitlam
Jay L. Fogel — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Port Coquitlam
David J. Walsoff — Barrister & Solicitor, West Vancouver

Professionalism and Advocacy

• professionalism, attitude, and decorum
• preparedness and competence
• communications and correspondence with judges—in court and out of court

The Honourable Judge James I.S. Sutherland — Provincial Court of BC, Surrey
Shannon J. Halyk — Regional Crown Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver
Marvin N. Stern — Stern, Albert, Shapray and Associates, Surrey

Concluding Remarks

Nicole J. Gregoire — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver
Mark R. Jetté — Sutherland Jetté, Vancouver