Law Times

PAGE 4 NEWS September 17, 2012 • Law timeS Chief justices Heather Smith, Warren Winkler, and Annemarie Bonkalo weighed in with their suggestions for improving the justice system at the opening of the courts ceremony last week. Photo: Heather Gardiner REDUCE THE COST OF eDISCOVERY CASELOGISTIX CaseLogistix offers an unsurpassed, intuitive user interface, so you spend less time learning – and more time being productive. HOW CASELOGISTIX HELPS YOU REDUCE COSTS • Organize legal documents automatically, so you spend less time administrating and prioritizing – and more time reading and analyzing • Review key formatting metadata without the need for costly conversions, using the native file review capability For more information visit www.westlawcanada.com or call 1-866-609-5811 Judges call for continued family law advocacy Opening of the courts T BY HEATHER GARDINER Law Times courts of Ontario ceremony, the prov- ince' further improvements to the family law system. Ontario Chief Justice Warren Winkler At this year's annual opening of the s three chief justices all called for he legal community must con- tinue to advocate for family law reform, according to Ontario' top judge. s took the opportunity to recognize the Ministry of the Attorney General and Le- gal Aid Ontario for their improvements to family law services during his speech on Sept. 12. But he also acknowledged that there' the specific areas of law with the greatest societal need and where we can have the highest impact," Winkler told an audi- ence that included judges from all three Ontario courts and various legal digni- taries. "Ontarians are more likely to have "We must concentrate our efforts on s still more work to do. a family law problem than any other type of serious legal issue, "Families in transition are expressing their increased frustration about the cost, complexity, and delay they face in family litigation." Winkler also noted the 35th anni- " said Winkler. Toronto and offered a promise to On- tario Attorney General John Gerretsen: "Before the end of this year, our court will demonstrate to you the tremendous value the DROs provide to family liti- gants. By their genuine skill in facilitating resolutions at an early stage in family mo- tions, the DROs save conflicted families not only the large litigation dollar costs but also the more insidious emotional costs." The court' will be to improve the process for child protection and high-conflict matters, said Smith. She noted those cases are "currently fraught with problems that are oſten referred to as 'systemic.'" There are not enough experienced s top priority for this year counsel available to deal with these chal- lenging cases, said Smith. She suggested changing the curriculum at law schools to offer new family clinician courses and a new children' tion. "Young lawyers require new expo- s law practice specializa- sure and experience in the field of child protection law, to foster a fresh interest by law students and young lawyers in pursuing this field. They will need to be mentored by senior family practitioners and to feel valued and recognized for their efforts." Chief Justice Annemarie Bonkalo of versary of the Unified Family Court this past June but expressed his dismay that the government hasn't expanded it across the province. "If we cannot move ahead rapidly with the extension of the Unified Family Court, we need to explore other means to simplify court procedures, shorten time- lines, and increase judicial specialization for family law within the existing court structure, Ontario Superior Court, echoed Win- kler' Heather Smith, chief justice of the s sentiments in her speech. " he said. provements mandatory information programs. They provide essential information to fam- ily litigants at the beginning of the court process. Smith also made the case for the dispute resolution officer program in She mentioned the significant im- resulting from the new www.lawtimesnews.com " said Smith. "We want the Ontario Court of Justice touched on child protection in her speech as well. She noted that the integrated domestic violence court has now been in opera- tion for a year and said the court plans to expand its jurisdiction to include some child-protection matters. Also during the ceremony, Blake Cas- sels & Graydon LLP partner Connie Reeve received the Catzman Award for professionalism and civility. The award honours the late Court of Appeal justice Marvin Catzman. Reeve leads her firm' and labour group in Toronto and co- leads its national employment and la- bour group. She has taught at Osgoode Hall Law School and the Queen' s employment sity Faculty of Law. Winkler described her as a dedicated LT s Univer- mentor to law students and lawyers and a valuable member of the bar who always puts her clients' needs first.

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