In a family law dispute involving jurisdiction and custody issues between Ontario and the UAE, a voir dire was held to determine the admissibility of the parties' proposed expert reports on Sharia Law and Islamic Legal Systems.
The court qualified the applicant mother's expert, finding he possessed the necessary special knowledge and experience.
The court disqualified the respondent father's expert and ruled his report inadmissible, finding that the expert was likely not the true author of the report, failed to comply with the mandatory requirements of Rule 20.2 of the Family Law Rules, and lacked the necessary specialized experience to render an opinion.
