November 6, 2023
The Court of Appeal for Ontario made its first outreach visit since the pandemic, travelling to Windsor at the end of October to meet with local judges of the Superior and Ontario Courts of Justice, the local bar, as well as to visit the University of Windsor, and to help reopen the renovated Windsor Law School Building.
The Honourable Michael Tulloch, Chief Justice of Ontario and President of the Court of Appeal, said “It is vitally important for the Court of Appeal to travel to various parts of the province, to engage with the local bench and bar and to promote collegiality amongst the various levels of court and understanding of the work of the Court of Appeal.”
The three-day outreach included several meetings and professional development, as well as participation in the Transforming Windsor Law Reopening & Celebration.
While speaking with law students inside the newly built Don Rodzik Moot Court, Chief Justice Tulloch told those gathered “I see clearly that this is a building that speaks to a commitment on the part of Windsor Law to create an environment and a legal education that represents its student body, now and well into the future.”
Chief Justice Tulloch further encouraged students to “stick to the path of cooperation and dedication to ensure that our justice system is responsive, accessible, and reflective of society.”
In addition to a roundtable meeting with the region’s Judges, the Court of Appeal also heard from a panel of notable experts on the use of artificial intelligence, including its current and projected use within legal contexts. There were also presentations on how freedom-seeking slaves travelled to Windsor and how some of those interactions resulted in legal precedents around extradition that still exist today.
On Friday evening, the Judges attended a dinner hosted with the Law Society of Ontario, where the Court engaged with local members of the bar and bench and heard from the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Honourable Michal Fairburn, Associate Chief Justice of Ontario, said “These days in Windsor have shown us that our work is more easily accomplished when we have a better understanding of and appreciation for the roles each of us plays within the justice system. The Court of Appeal thanks everyone in the Windsor legal community for being part of this collective experience and for their ongoing commitment to the administration of justice.”
At the Transforming Windsor Law Reopening & Celebration.
Inside the newly renovated Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law building
Listening to Dr. Karolyn Smardz Frost, author of “I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad”
The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, delivering remarks to the local bench and bar at a dinner hosted with the Law Society of Ontario.