Cases Considered: Hughes Estate v. Hughes [2008] A.J. No. 739 (Q.B.) (Q.L)
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PDF Version: Conflicting Interests, Conflicting Judgments and the Ethical Obligations of Lawyers and Judges
Introduction
At what point do a lawyer’s personal beliefs create a disqualifying conflict of interest? What are the obligations of a judge when a party is unrepresented by counsel? In addition to other issues (not discussed here), the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench judgment in Hughes Estate v. Hughes [2008] A.J. No. 739 (hereinafter “Hughes Estate“) raises these problems, the first directly and the second indirectly.