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Difference between revisions of "Understanding the Legal System for Family Law Matters"
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Understanding the Legal System for Family Law Matters (view source)
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===Appeal Basics=== | ===Appeal Basics=== | ||
The decision of the judge at the trial can be challenged to a higher court. A decision of the Provincial Court is appealed to | The decision of the judge at the trial can be challenged to a higher court. A decision of the Provincial Court is appealed to the Supreme Court, and a decision of the Supreme Court is appealed to the Court of Appeal. Decisions of the Court of Appeal can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, but only if the court agrees to hear the appeal. | ||
An appeal is not a chance to have a new trial, introduce new evidence or call additional witnesses | An appeal is not a chance to have a new trial, introduce new evidence or call additional witnesses. You don't get to appeal a decision just because you're unhappy with how things turned out. Appeals generally only concern whether the judge used the right law and applied the law correctly. This is what the Court of Appeal said about the nature of appeals in the 2011 case of ''Basic v. Strata Plan LMS 0304'': | ||
<blockquote>Consideration of this appeal must start, as all appeals do, recalling that the role of this court is not that of a trial court. Rather, our task is to determine whether the judge made an error of law, found facts based on a misapprehension of the evidence, or found facts that are not supported by evidence. Even where there is such an error of fact, we will only interfere with the order if the error of fact is material to the outcome.</blockquote> | <blockquote>Consideration of this appeal must start, as all appeals do, recalling that the role of this court is not that of a trial court. Rather, our task is to determine whether the judge made an error of law, found facts based on a misapprehension of the evidence, or found facts that are not supported by evidence. Even where there is such an error of fact, we will only interfere with the order if the error of fact is material to the outcome.</blockquote> | ||
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An appeal court does not hear new evidence or make decisions about the facts of a case; the appeal court will accept the trial judge's findings of fact. If the appeal court is satisfied that the trial made a <span class="noglossary">mistake</span> about the law, however, the appeal may succeed. | An appeal court does not hear new evidence or make decisions about the facts of a case; the appeal court will accept the trial judge's findings of fact. If the appeal court is satisfied that the trial made a <span class="noglossary">mistake</span> about the law, however, the appeal may succeed. | ||
Appeals at the Supreme Court are heard by one judge; appeals at the Court of Appeal are heard by a panel of three or five judges. At the hearing, the person who started the appeal will go first and will explain why the trial judge made a <span class="noglossary">mistake</span> about the law. The other party goes next and explains why the trial judge appropriately considered the applicable legal principles and why the judge was right. Sometimes the court is able to make a decision after hearing from each party | Appeals at the Supreme Court are heard by one judge; appeals at the Court of Appeal are heard by a panel of three or five judges. At the hearing, the person who started the appeal will go first and will explain why the trial judge made a <span class="noglossary">mistake</span> about the law. The other party goes next and explains why the trial judge appropriately considered the applicable legal principles and why the judge was right. Sometimes the court is able to make a decision after hearing from each party a decision. | ||
==Representing Yourself== | ==Representing Yourself== | ||
