In the spring of 2010, a comprehensive paper of recommendations will be submitted to the BC Government, all of which will pertain to the process of empanelling, preserving and presenting evidence to an eight-person civil jury. At present, the civil jury remains an important feature within the overall system of justice. However, various forces continue their push to make the civil jury less prominent or to dismantle it entirely.
The document will be supplied by the Trial Lawyers Association of BC, an organization with a voluntary membership base of 1200 legal professionals spread throughout the province. Civil justice involves a great many things and the trial lawyers of today practice law in a diverse range of areas. A common characteristic among members is that they represent people rather than corporations, governments and other powerful entities. This is vitally important to individual citizens who require legal assistance with anything from employment issues and personal injury litigation to immigration matters, wills and estates.
Detailed work in defence of the civil jury is an ongoing process…