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Welcome to New Benchers

The Law Society of Alberta welcomes three new Benchers whose terms start February 2007.

Neena Ahluwalia, Bencher: Two years after Neena Ahluwalia was called to the Alberta bar in July 1984, she started her own criminal defence practice in northeastern Alberta. In 1984, she became a member of the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association and joined their executive in 1990. She has been an Edmonton Bar Association board director since 1999. She has served as director for arts organizations such as Catalyst Theatre, and the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival.

Wayne Jacques, Lay Bencher: A chartered accountant, Wayne Jacques brings significant business, political and community experience. Mr. Jacques worked for Canfor for 28 years before becoming MLA for the Grande Prairie-Wapiti constituency. His appointments include being the first private member on the Treasury Board. Currently he is a board governor for the Peace Country Health, and a member of the Law Enforcement Review Board of Alberta and Alberta Transportation Safety Board.

Larry R. Ohlhauser, MD, Lay Bencher: Named one of the top 100 physicians of the century, Dr. Larry Ohlhauser currently provides services in healthcare management. Mr. Ohlhauser's experience includes roles such as registrar/CEO for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, adjunct professor for the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine, medical officer for the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves, and Chief of Staff for Drumheller General Hospital.

Video Conferencing Supplements QB Sitting Schedule

by Mona Duckett, QC, Past President, Law Society of Alberta

The Court of Queen's Bench has undertaken a pilot project using video conferencing to supplement the Queen's Bench sitting schedule. Notices to the bar have been or will be issued for St. Paul, Grande Prairie and Peace River and the project may be expanded pending resource availability. Urgent bail reviews and emergency applications may be made by video conference when there is no Judge sitting in the judicial district to hear the application in person. Arrangements must be made through the Regional Trial Coordinators office. The pilot project is being monitored by a committee chaired by Mr. Justice Paul Belzil and feedback from the bar is welcomed.

Judicial editing

Concerns were raised by the LSA Criminal Practice Advisory Committee about obtaining transcripts of a Judge's reasons from Transcript Management. The committee had concerns about both delays and judicial editing. Chief Justice Wachowich and Associate Chief Justice Wittmann have recently issued a Memorandum to members of the Court reminding them of the court's longstanding policy that Judges should edit transcripts as quickly as possible and that no changes should be made to the meaning. Discussions are ongoing with the Provincial Court, but currently, the practice appears to be the same in both trial courts.

Having discussed this issue with a number of members of the Court, I note that some Judges take the view that no changes should be made to the transcript of the oral reasons, and that the recording or certified reporter's transcript speaks for itself. Some Judges take the view that typographical or punctuation errors may be corrected.

We have been advised that where a Judge is either not available or not responsive to a request to release a transcript quickly, counsel may contact the Chief Justice or Associate Chief Justice with those concerns. If counsel have concerns about the editing and wish to obtain a copy of the transcript that was first produced by Transcript Management, I urge you to raise those concerns as well with the Chief or Associate Chief.

Correspondence directed to a Judge who is away may not be seen by anyone in a timely fashion unless it is specifically directed to his or her assistant. You may wish to mark your envelopes accordingly.

Trust accounting seminars for Grande Prairie

The Law Society of Alberta will be offering a trust accounting seminar for lawyers, staff and accountants, and an ethics workshop for lawyers and students in Grande Prairie, Alberta on Friday, March 16, 2007. For more information, please contact:

Michael J. Hussey, President
Grande Prairie Bar Association
(780) 532-7771