The
Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association (STLA) is committed to protecting the
rights of litigants within the province of Saskatchewan. One of the most significant
rights that litigants have enjoyed has been the right to select a jury to
determine civil cases.
In 2003, The Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench had proposed amendments
to The Jury Act which restricts the public’s right to demand
a civil trial before a jury. The STLA has opposed the Court’s initiative
and it will continue to so. Rather than have the debate between the Court
and its barristers proceed upon an anecdotal basis, the STLA, the CBA (Saskatchewan
Branch), the Law Society of Saskatchewan and the Department of Justice decided
to retain the services of
Dr.
J. Pfeiffer to review the current research and literature and to inquire into
the perceptions of Saskatchewan lawyers, Judges and civil jurors that have
been involved in civil jury trials in Saskatchewan in the recent past.
The results of Dr. Pfeiffer’s work does not support the Court’s
perceived need for change and we commend Dr. Pfeiffer’s report to your
reading. You can obtain a copy of the report by following this link - Information
Paper: Civil Jury Trials in Saskatchewan.
On behalf of the STLA Civil Jury Law Reform Committee