Mr. Casson is a member of ADR Chambers, Western Region. ADR Chambers is an Alternative Dispute Resolution Group which offers ADR services in the form of Mediations, Arbitrations, Neutral Evaluations, Mini-Trials, Med-Arbs, and Private Appeals, on consent of the parties, from an Arbitral Award or from a Judgment in a civil action.

Mr. Casson received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta in 1955 and his Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of New Brunswick in 1963.

POSITIONS HELD SINCE ALBERTA BAR ADMISSION (March 1965)

Crown Counsel, Alberta Attorney General (1965 to 1982)

Mr. Casson appeared for the Crown on a wide variety of federal and provincial prosecutions at all court levels.

Mainly as a result of the establishment of the Commercial Crime Section in the RCMP, he conducted numerous prosecutions of a complex corporate or commercial nature including consumer fraud, breach of public trust, corruption by public officials, stock manipulations, and securities offences, etc.

Assistant Director, Criminal Justice, Alberta Attorney General (1975 to 1980)

Mr. Casson was directly responsible for the management of the Head Office of the Criminal Justice Division which provided prosecutorial services in the Judicial Districts of Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Peace River, Grande prairie, St. Paul and Vegreville.

He assigned case files, oversaw prosecutions, maintained staff levels, assessed performance of prosecutors, maintained communication with police and government departments, provided training for prosecutors, prepared budgets, etc.

He assisted the Director of Criminal Justice in the overall administration of the Criminal Justice Division which provided prosecutorial services throughout Alberta by employing 136 full-time prosecutors and 60 contract lawyers.

As requested, he reviewed investigations of alleged misconduct by members of the RCMP regarding possible criminal charges, and personally conducted the criminal prosecution of two detachment commanders.

Director, Special Prosecutions, Alberta Attorney General (1980 to 1982)

Mr. Casson supervised and conducted prosecutions assigned to the Branch regarding significant cases of commercial or corporate criminal conduct, cases that were protracted or of a particularly sensitive or complex nature, and cases most appropriately handled by a prosecutor from outside of a particular judicial district.

Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta (1982 to 1990) and Supernumerary Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta (1990 to 2007)

As a full-time Judge, Mr. Casson was primarily involved in hearing adult criminal cases and additionally heard civil, family and youth trials on a regular basis.

Since retiring (1990), he has served as a Supernumerary Judge on a part-time basis. Due to the availability of Supernumerary Judges, he does not expect judicial assignments during the current contract period unless there is a need for an out-of-province Judge. For example, he was recently asked to hear a case involving the deputy mayor of Edmonton on a charge of theft.

Member, Arbitration Review Panel, BC Ministry of Attorney General (1995 to 1998)

The Arbitration Review Panel was established to review decisions of arbitrators appointed under BC's Residential Tenancy Act. Mr. Casson conducted in excess of 200 Review Hearings, mostly as Chair, all with written reasons for decision. A significant percentage of the disputes involved counsel who appeared on behalf of a landlord or tenant.

Chief Adjudicator, Criminal Records Review Program, BC Ministry of Solicitor General (1998 to 2003)

The BC Criminal Records Review Act is intended to help prevent the physical and sexual abuse of children. The requirement for a criminal records check applies to persons who work with children or may have access to children. This includes teachers and non-teaching staff, doctors, nurses and hospital staff, licenced health care workers, psychologists and licensed child care providers. Where a criminal record check discloses a relevant offence, an adjudicator must determine whether the conviction indicates that a person is a risk to children.

As Chief Adjudicator, Mr. Casson's significant duties included: developing criteria for screening files requiring different levels of adjudication, overseeing the process distributing files to adjudicators and coordinating their training, reviewing decisions and providing feedback for consistency, evaluating the adjudication process and recommending improvements, and producing a written annual report.

He personally adjudicated in excess of 250 individuals and provided written reasons for decisions in all cases.

Acting Police Complaint Commissioner, British Columbia, (July 2002 to February 2003)

BC's Police Complaint Commissioner is an independent officer of the Legislature with broad responsibility to oversee a process for citizen complaints against municipal police departments and their officers. The Commissioner's duties include receiving, processing and maintaining records of complaints, determining whether public hearings are required, compiling reports and statistical information about complaints, preparing and distributing information to the public, establishing mediation services when appropriate, and referring matters to Crown Counsel for criminal prosecution when warranted.

The skills required to carry out these duties include independence, effective communicator and educator, ability to interpret legislation and create regulations and policy, experience in mediation and legal processes, and the ability to administer financial and staff resources.

BC's Solicitor General acknowledged Mr. Casson's contribution for accepting the appointment "...at a time of instability and transition within the Commission, and at a time when [Mr. Casson's] leadership skills were needed." The Legislature's Clerk of Committees further stated, "...Mr. Casson brought a steady hand and organizational vision to an office in turmoil during a review of Part 9 of the Police Act by a special Committee of the Legislative Assembly...."

Instructor in Evidence and Administrative Law for the BC Council of Administrative Tribunals (1997 to Present)

Mr. Casson provides lectures to members and prospective members on "Conducting Fair Hearings and Evaluating Evidence" and "Administrative Law and the Principles of Natural Justice". Topics include the pre-hearing process, elements of a fair hearing, the post-hearing process, admitting and evaluating evidence, the right to know the case and reply, bias, and independence of the decision-maker.

Consultant/Arbitrator for Ontario Education Services Corporation (2003 - 2004)

Mr. Casson provided assistance to the Ontario Education Services Corporation to set up a criminal records review process and, as necessary, provide binding arbitration services if an employee is terminated as a result of a criminal review check.

As a member of ADR Chambers, Western Region, Mr. Casson is available for all forms of alternative dispute resolution throughout British Columbia and Alberta.