Meet our judges
The Supreme Court of Canada consists of 9 judges, including the Chief Justice of Canada. Judges of the Supreme Court have the important task of making independent and impartial decisions on issues that matter to Canadians.
Click on a judge’s photo to read their biography, download their official portrait and watch their swearing-in ceremony (when available).
The work of a Supreme Court judge
The primary role of Supreme Court of Canada judges is to hear and decide cases. Outside of the courtroom, judges also engage with Canadians and the international judicial community. They play an important role in protecting key principles such as the open court principle and judicial independence. Read more in The Supreme Court at work.
Judicial education
Like all judges in Canada, Supreme Court judges are required to participate in ongoing training. The National Judicial Institute offers world-class training to judges on a range of topics from substantive legal issues to social context education.
Ethical obligations
All of the Supreme Court judges are guided by the Ethical Principles for Judges, which provide a framework for their ethical obligations. The framework is divided into 5 overarching principles:
- Independence
- Integrity and respect
- Diligence and competence
- Equality
- Impartiality
Judicial appointments
All 9 judges are appointed by the Governor in Council and must have been either a judge of a superior court or a member of at least 10 years’ standing of the bar of a province or territory. The chief justice is sworn as a member of the Privy Council of Canada before taking the oath of office as chief justice.
By law, 3 judges must come from Quebec. Traditionally, the Governor in Council has appointed 3 judges from Ontario, 2 from the Western provinces or Northern Canada and 1 from the Atlantic provinces.
The appointment process is administered by the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Canada. From the applications received, an independent advisory board identifies a shortlist of jurists that meet the eligibility requirements. That shortlist is provided to the prime minister for consideration. Find more information on the Commissioner’s website.
The role of the chief justice
In addition to the regular work of a Supreme Court judge, the chief justice has added responsibilities.
When present for a hearing, the chief justice presides for the Court. The chief justice also oversees the work of the Court by designating the panels of judges who will hear the cases and motions brought before it.
Outside the courtroom, the chief justice has several other responsibilities:
- The chief justice is chairperson of the Canadian Judicial Council, whose members include the chief justices and associate chief justices of the federal and provincial superior courts, and the senior judges of the territorial superior courts. This body, established by the Judges Act, has a mandate to promote efficiency, uniformity and accountability, as well as improve the administration of justice throughout Canada.
- The chief justice also chairs the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute (NJI). The NJI develops and delivers educational programs for all Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial judges. It also offers training to judges and court administrators around the world.
- The chief justice is co-chair of the Action Committee on Modernizing Court Operations. Initially formed to ensure the continuity of court operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, this committee’s mandate remains to improve access to justice for court users.
- The chief justice of Canada chairs the committee that advises the governor general on awards of membership in the Order of Canada. As deputy governor general, the chief justice stands in for the governor general when they are absent.
- The chief justice can be called upon to champion a number of causes related to access to justice and the administration of the judicial system, both in Canada and internationally. These can include working with pro bono clinics, international organizations or action committees.
- The chief justice maintains relationships with other apex courts and chief justices around the world.
Administrator of the Government of Canada
As set out by the letters patent of 1947 regarding the office of governor general, if the governor general cannot fulfill their duties for a period of more than 1 month, the chief justice becomes the administrator of the Government of Canada and exercises all the powers and authorities of the governor general. Chief Justice Richard Wagner fulfilled this duty from January 23 to July 26, 2021, when the role of governor general was vacant.