The Hon. Karen Weiler

This third interview with Justice Karen Weiler, conducted at her home in 2004, covers several significant aspects of her judicial career and contributions to Canadian legal development. She provides detailed analysis of the second Family Law Reform Act (1982), explaining the major shift from family asset sharing to a complete deferred community of property system, and her informal involvement in the legislative negotiations while serving on the bench.

Weiler discusses her pioneering work in appellate mediation, describing her training in Colorado and the development of pre-hearing appellate conferences at the Ontario Court of Appeal. She explains how these conferences offer parties broader solutions than traditional appeals and help maintain ongoing relationships between parties. The interview also covers her views on criminal sentencing, including minimum sentences and plea bargaining, her experiences visiting detention centers, and her work on prisoner appeals at Kingston.

The interview concludes with discussion of significant family law cases, particularly Contino v. Leonelli-Contino regarding child support guidelines and Marinangelli v. Marinangelli concerning disclosure obligations in separation agreements. These cases demonstrate her expertise in developing family law jurisprudence and her contributions to evolving standards around financial disclosure and support obligations in family law matters.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.