An Adjudicator’s Toolkit

Farewell, for now...

After a brief hiatus and a deep think, some big changes for this newsletter

Mar 6 • Ian R. Mackenzie

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January 2026

Addressing expert evidence

Reasons require active engagement with the evidence plus defending the Rule of Law

Jan 23 • Ian R. Mackenzie

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When advocacy leads to an apprehension of bias

A recent case on the limits of advocacy by a tribunal member after appointment

Jan 16 • Ian R. Mackenzie

3

1

Beginning a New Year

Now an award-winning newsletter, plus restrictions on post-employment appearances before tribunals

Jan 9 • Ian R. Mackenzie

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December 2025

Sufficiency of reasons plus "the sins of the lawyer"

As well, some New Year's Resolutions - some for others and some for me

Dec 12, 2025 • Ian R. Mackenzie

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Guidance on AI confidentiality and a critique plus more on adjournments

A look at new guidance on confidentiality and AI from the United Kingdom and yet another case on adjournment requests

Dec 5, 2025 • Ian R. Mackenzie

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November 2025

Failure to record a hearing and “obiter”

New cases on when a failure to have a transcript is not fatal, and how decision-makers can use non-binding opinions by the courts

Nov 28, 2025 • Ian R. Mackenzie

1

AI and the further erosion of collegiality

Comments from recent presentations, plus case briefs on vexatious litigants, referring to the wrong statute and cautions on using active adjudication

Nov 21, 2025 • Ian R. Mackenzie

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1

The challenges in applying the "Open Court" principle

A new case out of Nova Scotia on anonymization requests plus insights into the federal budget and ostriches.

Nov 7, 2025 • Ian R. Mackenzie

1

October 2025

On adjournments

Denying a second adjournment - how to approach the request

Oct 31, 2025 • Ian R. Mackenzie

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1

Credibility assessments

A new decision on credibility and prior consistent statements, plus upcoming conferences/webinars

Oct 24, 2025 • Ian R. Mackenzie

2

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AI as a tool - "jolly useful or jolly dangerous"?

Sir Geoffrey Vos on the questions we should be asking about AI and justice, plus a note on managing backlogs

Oct 17, 2025 • Ian R. Mackenzie

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