Windsor Law will welcome a panel of local jurists to discuss topics of interest to the ethical practice of criminal law, Thursday, Jan. 30. The Law Society of Ontario is offering two hours of Continuing Professional Development credit, professionalism category, to all members in attendance.

Having retired from the Office of the Crown Attorney in 2019 after 30 years of service, event organizer and moderator Brian Manarin has extensive experience in the field of criminal law in the regions of Toronto, Scarborough, and Windsor. He has been teaching at Windsor Law since 2002 and is currently serving as the 2019-20 Ianni Legal Fellow.

“An Evening with the Local Bench and Bar is intended to be informative for both the legally trained individual and the layperson,” says Dr. Manarin. “Certain legal myths will be dispelled, fundamental tenets of the law will be reinforced, and new Criminal Code provisions will be discussed.”

Panelists include Justice Bruce Thomas, Ontario Superior Court of Justice; Justice Lloyd Dean, Ontario Court of Justice; Maria Carroccia, barrister and solicitor and president of the Criminal Lawyer’s Association of Windsor and Essex County; Belinda Pagliaroli, barrister and solicitor and Crown Attorney for the County of Essex; and Windsor Law professors David Tanovich and Beverly Jacobs.

Dean of law Christopher Waters calls his school a “fantastic training ground” for practitioners of criminal law — Crown and defence counsel alike.

“Events like these are part of the reason. We have a strong local bar and bench who are willing to engage with and mentor our students,” he says. “They join our incredible full-time faculty and clinical lawyers in preparing graduates for ethical and effective practice in the area of criminal law.”

Set for 6 p.m. in the Moot Court, this event is free and open to the public, with priority given to University of Windsor students, faculty, staff, and community partners. Attendees must register in advance: attend.com/WLBenchandBar.

—Rachelle Prince