Ontario judge ordered to undergo coaching for 'abusive and intimidating' tone during family court hearing
A Superior Court justice in Milton has been ordered to participate in coaching from a more senior judge after the Canadian Judicial Council found that his tone was “abusive and intimidating” during a family court hearing last September.
In a recent decision, the council wrote that Justice Charles Chang’s tone was “inappropriate” and “intimidating at times.”
“His interventions go beyond what is usually considered the exercise of proper firmness,” the report read.
The council’s report, which includes information from both a screening officer and a reviewing member, does not go into detail about exactly what was said during the hearing.
According to the report, Chang was dealing with an “urgent motion for temporary orders” with respect to “decision-making responsibility, parenting time and the children’s attendance at school and daycare.”
The report notes that Chang “repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction” with the “he said/she said” nature of the submissions, adding that there was “little or no neutral, external evidence to support the parties’ assertions.”
On the day in question, the report states, Chang had been informed that the Milton Courthouse, where the matter was being heard, would be “closed indefinitely due to substance contamination in the building.”
Asbestos, mould and structural concerns were to blame for repeated closures of the Milton courthouse over the past year.
In a letter to the reviewer, Chang’s counsel wrote that the judge was “very distressed” about the closure, as it was not the first time in the recent past where the courthouse had been closed.
The reviewing member in the case found that while the closures caused “a lot of rearrangement, reassignments, and uncertainty,” that alone “cannot be given emphasis” to justify the interventions and tone in court.
In response to some of the concerns that were flagged, the report read, Justice Chang’s counsel noted that it was the judge’s “colloquial and direct way of expressing the concerns he had as the judge dealing with an application that he considered to have been poorly prepared and ill-considered.”
In his letter, Chang apologized to the complainant if “she left the hearing feeling that she had been verbally abused and intimidated,” the council’s report read. He also recognized in his letter that his words and tone were “not appropriate” at times, according to the report.
“While that was never Justice Chang’s intent, he indicated that he has reflected on this issue and sought out the assistance of a retired judicial colleague as a mentor on this area,” the report continued.
Chang was first appointed to the Superior Court of Justice in 2022. CP24 has reached out to Chang for comment but has not yet received a response.
While the council found that removal from office was “not justified,” the three-member review panel noted that it will “take an action of a private nature” while also ordering Chang take part in “more coaching with a senior judge for a duration and frequency” decided by Ontario’s Chief Justice.
“As stated by the reviewing member, this matter is not trivial,” the panel wrote.
“Justice Chang is at the beginning of his judicial career and the Council cannot simply hope that this will not happen again if Justice Chang faces yet another urgent matter with similar challenges.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Halifax police confirm body of Walmart employee was found in walk-in oven
Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.
Former Conservative leader says Trudeau 'should move on' amid efforts to oust him
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'should move on,' as he faces growing inner-caucus turmoil.
Butter shoplifters strike again! Two more large-scale thefts reported in Guelph, Ont.
At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.
PM Trudeau doesn't think his leadership is in danger, as ministers voice confidence in him a day before key Liberal meeting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think his leadership is in danger, one day before a highly anticipated Liberal caucus meeting where his future at the helm of the Liberal party is expected to be up for discussion.
Asian American boba brand finds opportunity after Simu Liu sparks cultural appropriation debate
The Asian American boba milk tea brand, Twrl, have a chance to pitch a pretty well-known investor -- actor Simu Liu. The irony is that it came about after the owners posted a video on TikTok in support of Liu calling out the white owners of a boba drink brand for cultural appropriation on "Dragons' Den," the Canadian version of "Shark Tank."
Hoard of 1,000-year-old coins unearthed in a farmer's field sells for US$5.6 million
Adam Staples knew he'd found something when his metal detector let out a beep. And then another. And another.
What is 'pink cocaine'? Designer drug linked to Liam Payne and named in Diddy lawsuit
A partial autopsy has revealed that former One Direction singer Liam Payne had multiple substances in his system when he plunged to his death from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
W5 Investigates You donated clothing to needy Canadians. So how did it end up in Africa?
In the first of a four-part investigation into the seedy underbelly of the lucrative clothing donation bin industry, CTV W5 puts a spotlight on how some of the clothes Canadians donate to charity end up in markets in Africa.
Former volunteers search for missing, dead cats linked to an eastern Ontario cat rescue
Former volunteers with Eastern Ontario Cats (EOC) are working to track cats they say are either dead or missing after allegations of abuse, neglect and falsified medical records surfaced in recent months.