Supervised by Professor Elizabeth Judge, Full Professor in the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section and a Faculty member at the Centre for Law, Technology and Society at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Mike Madden's thesis offers an innovative assessment of the readability of decisions rendered by judicial and administrative tribunals in Canada. This interdisciplinary work highlights the challenges that legal language presents to litigants and offers concrete suggestions for promoting more accessible legal communication.
Before pursuing his PhD, Dr. Madden completed both his LL.M. and M.A. in English from Dalhousie University and spent 25 years in the Canadian Forces, where he served as an Artillery Officer, Naval Operations Officer, and Legal Officer in the Office of the Judge Advocate General. In the latter role, he was often the principal legal advisor and policy architect for bills proposing legislative amendments to the National Defense Act, such as Bill C-77, a law that fundamentally transforms the Canadian Forces summary trial system into a non-criminal, non-penal forum for maintaining military discipline.
Dr. Madden's research is part of the work of the Centre for Law, Technology and Society, where he is more broadly interested in the intersection of law, technology, communication, and justice.
In addition to his supervisor, the thesis committee included Professors Wolfgang Alschner, Suzanne Bouclin, Amy Salyzyn, and Noel Semple (University of Windsor). The chair of the thesis defense was Professor Sylvia Rich.
Congratulations to Dr.Madden.