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ONLINE ZOOM MEETINGS We are going to explore the historical and social background of some of the intriguing, interesting and important legal cases which have had lasting impact on our society and affect our lives today. Each month we will have a presentation about some of these famous and fascinating cases, plus the opportunity to discuss legal current affairs. Legal issues and law cases will be based on current events and participants' interests.
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| When: | 4th Monday of the month |
| Time: | 1:00 - 3:00 PM |
| Dates: |
2026: June 29, September 28, October 26, November 23, no meeting in December 2027: January 25, February 22, March 22, April 26, May 31, June 28 |
| Where: | Online Zoom meetings. Zoom link will be sent out to registrants via email. |
| Max: |
100 |
| Facilitator: | Jim Conway, lawyer |
The Problem with Eyewitness Testimony“Nothing spoils a good story like the arrival of an eyewitness.” ~Mark Twain Canadian courts are not so sure. On one hand, eyewitness identification and testimony is a critical component of the criminal justice system. It is used to guide police investigations and prosecutions and can be compelling evidence in a courtroom. On the other hand, there is considerable research that has documented eyewitness misidentification as the leading cause of wrongful convictions. “The spectre of erroneous convictions based on honest and convincing, but mistaken, eyewitness identification haunts the criminal law” (R. v. Quercia, (1990)(Ontario Court of Appeal) “…it is important to remember that the danger associated with eyewitness in-court identification is that it is deceptively credible, largely because it is honest and sincere.”(R.v.Hibbert)(2002)(Supreme Court of Canada) As a result, eyewitness testimony is regarded as both relevant, and not really trustworthy, at the same time. What are the problems wth eyewitness testimony? What are the best practices and legal safeguards in place across the criminal justice system to minimize the effects of eyewitness error when it occurs? |
This program is facilitated and presented by Jim Conway, CALL member & retired lawyer. To join the group, or to attend a session you are interested in, please register with the facilitator. Drop–ins are also welcome. |
For registration information or to join the waitlist, visit: Registration
It is not necessary for you to register for this meeting or future meetings if you are on the emailing list for NSCL. Everyone who is on the email list receives an email notice of each meeting with the Zoom link.
Past Presentations |