278. Witnesses are entitled to the protection of the court against any intimidation tactics while they are testifying and against any abusive examination.
The court may, on application or on its own initiative, prevent an unrepresented party from examining or cross-examining the other party or a child, where the unrepresented party has been indicted or is subject to an order, an undertaking or a recognizance under the Criminal Code (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46) concerning that other party or that child in relation to family violence, which includes spousal violence, or to sexual violence, or where the unrepresented party is subject to a civil protection order or to an application, agreement or decision relating to youth protection also concerning that other party or that child or where the court considers that such a context of violence exists. In such a case, the court orders that a lawyer be designated to conduct the examination or cross-examination.
2014, c. 1, a. 278; 2022, c. 222022, c. 22, s. 1411.