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Law School in a Day for Forensic Practitioners
April 26, 2021 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
A courtroom differs so much from a laboratory, but a forensic practitioner needs to be knowledgeable about the rules and procedures in both workplaces. What do you, as a forensic scientist, need to learn to work more effectively within the Canadian criminal justice system? In this workshop, through lectures, panel discussions and practical exercises, you will learn about those aspects of the Canadian criminal justice system that impact forensic scientists, including new rulings and new legislation (concerning mandatory accreditation, preliminary inquiries, and sexual assault trials), the Charter, scientific evidence admissibility, disclosure, third party records, privilege, and ethical duties.
Schedule:
Time Slot | Module |
10 – 10:45 | Introductions/Preliminaries/Goals of the Workshop |
10:45 – 11:15 | Ethics and the Forensic Expert |
11:15 – 11:30 | Morning break |
11:30 – 12:00 | Disclosure |
12:00 – 12:30 | Third Party records/Lost evidence |
12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch break |
1:00 – 1:30 | Admissibility of Evidence – Foundational cases |
1:30 – 2:00 | Who is an expert? |
2:00 – 2:15 | Abandoned samples |
2:15 – 2:45 | Afternoon break |
2:45 – 3:15 | Anecdotal evidence |
3:15 – 4:00 | Round table – interesting cases and legislative changes |
Panelists:
Cecilia Hageman PhD, LL.M, Associate Teacher Professor – Ontario Tech University
Prior to joining the OntarioTech University Forensic Science program in 2013, Dr. Hageman spent 20 years as a Scientist and an Assistant Section Head of Biology in the Centre of Forensic Sciences with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services in Toronto, prepping scientists to perform the role of expert witness and assessing their role in court. Dr. Hageman has testified in the areas of forensic DNA analysis, bloodstain pattern analysis, serology, and body fluid identification. She has served as an expert forensic witness on more than 130 criminal cases for jury and non-jury trials in the Superior Court Justice of Ontario, and trials and preliminary inquiries in the Ontario Court of Justice.
She has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science, and is an Associate Member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. Highly sought after for her forensic expertise, Dr. Hageman has participated in three television productions involving cases from the Centre of Forensic Sciences, and she co-authored the DNA Handbook. She has assisted the student-led Innocence Project at York University, and works with the Toronto-based Innocence Canada.
Karen Woodall PhD, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream – University of Toronto at Mississauga
Dr. Karen Woodall is an Assistant Professor and Forensic Toxicologist within the Forensic Science Program at the University of Toronto. She graduated in 1996 from the University of Bradford, UK with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology. She worked as a Forensic Toxicologist at the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto for 20 years before joining the University of Toronto. As a forensic toxicologist, she regularly testifies in court as an expert witness in many different types of trials including drug trafficking, homicide, sexual assault and impaired driving cases. Karen is also a member of the Canadian Drugs and Driving committee which acts as an advisory body to the Department of Justice with respect to issues of drug impaired driving. Her research interests include toxicology and the opioid crisis, the role of drugs in motor vehicle fatalities and oral fluid drug testing equipment.
Caitlin Pakosh, HBSc, JD, Assistant Crown Attorney – Newmarket
Caitlin Pakosh is an Assistant Crown Attorney in Newmarket with experience researching and writing about the intersection between forensic science and criminal law, most notably in her award-winning book featuring thirty-three expert contributors, “The Lawyer’s Guide to the Forensic Sciences” (Irwin Law, 2016). She has been an Assistant Crown Attorney since April 2018. Before joining the Ministry of the Attorney General, Caitlin opened her own criminal defence firm focusing on criminal appeals after working for several years at Innocence Canada as its Senior Staff Lawyer. Caitlin was called to the Bar in Ontario in June 2012 after receiving her law degree from the University of Calgary in 2011. She is a proud graduate of UTM’s forensic science program, having graduated in 2008 specializing in forensic anthropology with a minor in biology.
Rhonda Smith JD, LL.M, Associate Professor – Trent University
Professor Smith has Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) Degree and a Juris Doctorate in Law from Queen’s University, as well as a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School. In her early legal career she practiced criminal law as both Crown and Defence Counsel, as well as labour, employment, and family law. She has worked in both the private and public sectors in various roles throughout her professional life before coming to Trent University. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, ADR Institutes of Ontario and Canada, and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Professor Smith conducts research into alternate ways to present scientific expert evidence in criminal courts, the presentation of statistical evidence in criminal courts, and experiential pedagogy.
Moderator:
Kimberly Nugent MSc, Associate Teaching Professor – Ontario Tech University
Kimberly Nugent joined Ontario Tech University in 2004 where she was hired to support the development of the undergraduate Forensic Science Program. As an Associate Teaching Professor, she manages the dedicated forensic science teaching facilities and has established a unique crime scene house and laboratory. She has been the recipient of several NSERC PromoScience grants as well as Ontario Tech Teaching Innovation Fund Awards. Ms. Nugent’s research interests include the development of innovative teaching tools to enhance student engagement and has created several interactive online learning elements. Ms. Nugent is currently the President of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science as well as an Associate Member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
This webinar will be on Zoom. Links will be sent prior to the date for registered attendees.
Cost is $50 for non-members.
Special Offer – Non Members can apply for membership and then this webinar will be available at no charge. Apply now (cost $30), then log in to your new account for the free webinar. Click to Apply for Membership.
FREE for members (members must log into their account to register at no cost).