THE APPELLATE CRAFT by J. E. CÔTÉ A Justice of the Courts of Appeal of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut The Canadian Judicial Council 2009 © Canadian Judicial Council Catalogue Number: JU14-20/2009 ISBN: 978-0-662-06475-6 Canadian Judicial Council Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0N8 Telephone: (613) 288-1566 Fax: (613) 288-1575 Email: [email protected] Also available on the Council’s Web site at www.cjc-ccm.gc.ca TABLE OF CONTENTS | iii Table of Contents PREFACE . x CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION. 1 A. Who this Book is For . 1 B. Art, Science, or Craft?. 2 C. Approach or Philosophy . 3 CHAPTER 2 – MAKING LAW . 4 A. Two Functions of Courts of Appeal . 4 B. Stare Decisis. 6 C. Clarity of Precedents . 8 D. Natural Justice. 8 E. Overextended Law-Making? . 9 1. Introduction . 9 2. Judges Make Law . 9 3. Proper Degree. 10 4. Method Matters . 10 F. Afterword . 12 CHAPTER 3 – JUSTICE BETWEEN PARTIES . 13 A. Over-Legislating. 13 B. Written Reasoning. 18 C. Standards of Review . 18 1. Introduction. 18 2. Importance and Rationale . 19 3. Problems of Second Appeals . 19 D. Factual Appeals . 20 1. What is Palpable and Overriding Error . 20 (a) Skipped Factual Issue . 20 (b) Contradictory Findings . 20 (c) No Evidence at All. 21 (d) Evidence Misquoted . 21 (e) Logical Errors . 21 2. How to Research and Analyze the Evidence. 22 3. Trial Judge’s Failure to Find Facts . 23 E. New Trials . 23 1. Unfair Surprise . 24 2. Unequal Procedure . 24 3. Breach of Procedural Rules . 24 4. Misconduct by One Party . 24 5. Mistaken Decisions about Evidence . 25 6. Interference by the Trial Judge . 25 7. Misdirection of the Jury. 25 F. Sentence Appeals . 26 G. Damage or Maintenance Appeals . 26 iv | TABLE OF CONTENTS H. Justice vs. Courtesy . ..