By: Kelly Winsa

Kelly Winsa — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 16:42:53 +0000

It is interesting that in France, those wishing to become judges attend Ecole Nationale de la Magistrature. This does not guarantee success. A ratio of judges are chosen according to ability in exams. It is curious that in North America, there is no training.
It is also not unheard of for sitting judges to recommend their friends. I understand this to mean that there is an undercurrent of entitlement of the ones in the position over the people they are paid to serve.
The cost of being in court in Canada, in family court particularly, is truly something that needs to be addressed. Family violence, violence against women. When judges do not know about these issues, the children are placed in a vulnerable position, and I do not believe there is legislation that makes it illegal to ask a child to testify for a parent. Which parent would ask this of a child? There is a hole there. A well trained parent would not ask a child to testify. Further, that parent may then be asked not to discuss it with the child by a judge who may not have early childhood training, meaning that silence reigns in a family where the affected members are well aware of what is happening but are not allowed to speak of it.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, when judges are not properly trained. If the government which appoints judges will not get involved, who is policing the system?
There is much that needs to be approached.

Comments on: Sexual assault school for Canada’s judges?

By: Kelly Winsa