Year in Review 2023 - Supreme Court of Canada in Action

Outreach and Education

The Court is pleased to engage in a wide variety of education and outreach initiatives throughout the year directed at teachers and students, members of the legal community, and the public at large. Promoting understanding of the Court’s role is essential, given that its decisions have an impact on our society. These efforts also allow young people to gain insight into possible career paths in the law.

Strengthening Awareness of the Supreme Court’s Role

Consistent with its efforts to promote openness and transparency, the Court is pleased to welcome individuals and school groups for guided tours, both in-person and online. These tours offer not just a look inside our historic building, but a chance to hear more about the role and function of the Court from one of our knowledgeable, bilingual guides.

The Supreme Court also strives to empower educators with the knowledge and tools they need to teach the next generation of informed citizens about our judicial system. Our educational kit provides a range of resources such as a printable handout on the role of the Court, an activity book for younger students, and a lesson plan for hosting a mock trial in the classroom.

A visit by the Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy has become an annual highlight. This unique program allows engaged law, civics and social studies teachers to experience Canadian public institutions up close, including the Supreme Court. Each year, participants get the chance to tour our building, sit in our courtroom and hear more about the work of a Supreme Court judge.

Promoting Access to Justice

Judges of the Supreme Court are strong proponents of the principle of Access to Justice. The challenges associated with access to justice have been well-documented, and all stakeholders in the justice system have a role to play in solving them.

Members of the Court also recognize the value of initiatives like law clinics, legal aid programs, pro bono and duty counsel work. There are many different grassroots organizations across the country working to ensure citizens are aware of their legal rights, can access legal information, and know where to turn for affordable legal representation.

The leadership provided by the Action Committee on Modernizing Court Operations – co-chaired by the Chief Justice and the Minister of Justice – is instrumental in improving access to justice for court users. Initially formed to ensure the continuity of court operations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee’s mandate was recently broadened and its term extended through 2024.

Under the leadership of Justice Andromache Karakatsanis, the National Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters also continues to identify new approaches on this critical issue.

Engaging with the Legal Community

Members of the Supreme Court often participate in initiatives hosted by national, provincial and local bar associations and law societies. Representatives from the Court also collaborate with administrators and professionals from other courts to exchange ideas and best practices.

Judicial independence, access to justice, and mental health and wellness have been particularly salient topics of discussion in recent years. The legal community is not immune from the challenges observed in broader society.

Judges of the Supreme Court also meet regularly with law students, providing opportunities to discuss legal issues and hear more about jurists’ career paths.

Supporting Judicial Education

The strength of our justice system depends on a highly-skilled, dedicated, and professional judiciary. The Canadian Judicial Council, chaired by Chief Justice Richard Wagner, ensures that judges are kept at the forefront of our justice system. Chief Justice Wagner also serves as chair of the National Judicial Institute, an independent, judge-led organization that develops and delivers a range of educational programs to Canada’s judiciary.

Justices from the Supreme Court of Canada welcome representatives from the Canadian Bar Association, Federation of Law Societies of Canada, and the Advocates Society.

Justice Andromache Karakatsanis addresses participants from the National Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters Annual Summit.

The Supreme Court hosted the closing meeting of the Heads of Courts Administration Annual Conference.

Justice Suzanne Côté welcomes students from Université de Sherbrooke.

Justice Sheilah L. Martin meets with law students from the University of Ottawa.

Justice Nicholas Kasirer welcomes educators from the Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy.

International Engagement

The Supreme Court of Canada is widely recognized as a leader in the international judicial community. Court members and staff often pursue opportunities to share best practices and discuss topics of mutual interest with their counterparts around the world. Such contributions on the global scene help promote the importance of key principles like openness, access to justice and judicial independence.

Participating in Judicial Exchanges

Judicial exchanges with other Courts around the world provide unique opportunities for the exchange of views and experiences, allowing judges to share best practices and discuss topics of mutual interest.

Contributing to International Judicial Organizations

The Supreme Court of Canada is a proud member of international judicial organizations such as the Association of Francophone Constitutional Courts, the Association des Hautes Juridictions de Cassation des pays ayant en partage l’usage du Français, the International Association of Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions and the World Conference on Constitutional Justice.

Welcoming International Visitors & Delegations

Meetings with foreign visitors and delegations provide important opportunities to discuss a broad range of matters such as court modernization, judicial cooperation and the Rule of Law, and hear how other courts around the world are addressing emerging legal issues.

The Court welcomed a number of international visitors in 2023, including Elke Büdenbender, First Lady of Germany.

Chief Justice Richard Wagner meets with a delegation from Japan. Pictured are Second Secretary Tatsuya Kawafuchi, Supreme Court Justice Michiharu Hayashi and Fukuoka District Court Judge Yoshitaka Moriyama.

2023 International Engagements At a Glance

March 20

Meeting with Members of the Diplomatic Community

Chief Justice Richard Wagner was pleased to meet with members of the diplomatic corps – the body of foreign diplomats and heads of mission assigned and accredited to Canada. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about the history and role of the Court as well as the importance of judicial independence. The visit renewed an annual tradition that had been on hold since the pandemic.

March 27-30

Asia Pacific Judicial Colloquium

Chief Justice Richard Wagner and Justices Mahmud Jamal and Michelle O’Bonsawin participated in the Asia Pacific Judicial Colloquium in New Zealand, with their counterparts from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. The Colloquium provides a forum for discussion on court administration and substantive law. They delivered remarks respectively on misinformation, parliamentary privilege and the duty to consult Indigenous Peoples.

April 13

World Law Congress at the United Nations

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to upholding and promoting the Rule of Law, the World Jurist Association presented Chief Justice Wagner with its Medal of Honor at a special ceremony at the United Nations in New York during the Opening Sessions of the World Law Congress.

May 04

Meeting with the American Political Science Association (APSA) Congressional Fellowship Program

Justice Malcolm Rowe welcomed PhD students from the APSA Congressional Fellowship Program. This longstanding exchange provides an intensive comparative study between Westminster-style and US-model parliamentary systems. A visit to the Supreme Court allowed participants to examine the similarities and differences between the United States and Canada from a judicial perspective, as well.

June 01

Association des cours constitutionnelles francophones (ACCF)

The ACCF brings together 50 constitutional courts from French-speaking countries, enabling the exchange of ideas and experiences on strengthening the rule of law. It also promotes international judicial training and cooperation. The Chief Justice served as president of the association from 2019 to 2022, and continues to serve on the ACCF’s board with representatives from nine other countries. The board met in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June.

July 10-14

The Cambridge Lectures

Chief Justice Richard Wagner and Justices Nicholas Kasirer, Mahmud Jamal and Michelle O’Bonsawin were honoured to participate in the Cambridge Lectures at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom (U.K.). The Chief Justice serves as Patron of this lecture series. During these events, he was invited to speak about comparative law, public confidence in the judiciary and judicial independence at the U.K. Supreme Court with its President, Lord Robert John Reed of Allermuir.

September 08-09

Judicial Exchange with the Supreme Court of the United States

Members of the Supreme Court of Canada welcomed the Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr., Associate Justice Elena Kagan and retired Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer. Discussions focused on challenges and opportunities for apex courts over the coming decade, including the management of the court docket, the role of intervenors and artificial intelligence. Also discussed were the importance of public communications and outreach activities to strengthen public confidence in the justice system.

September 10-13

35th Anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Korea

The Chief Justice travelled to Seoul to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Korea. He was invited as a keynote speaker to share the Canadian perspective on proportionality review in constitutional law in a lecture delivered to Court members, staff and academics.

November 29

Visit with delegation from Mongolia

In collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs, the Supreme Court was honoured to welcome a delegation from Mongolia. Representatives from the Court shed light on our approach to public outreach and media relations. It was just one of many such visits hosted by the Court each year with judicial officials from around the world.

Court Staff

Behind the scenes, a dedicated team works in service to Canadians

Whether you are a legal professional, an appellant, or a member of the public wanting to visit, a dedicated team of professionals works to ensure the smooth administration of Canada’s highest court. From experts in legal translation, to specialists in information technology, human resources, security and protocol, employees bring expertise in many different areas. This allows the Court to operate safely, transparently and efficiently.

The registry assists those filing submissions or appearing before the Court. Over the past year, staff answered more than 4,400 phone calls from counsel, self-represented litigants and the general public.

The Supreme Court’s library is home to one of Canada’s richest collections of legal materials for the Court’s judges, lawyers and law clerks. Other users of the library include lower court judges, members of any bar association, law professors and anyone with special authorization to access the library collection.

Supreme Court judges also count on the support of their law clerks. These recent graduates from law schools across the country research points of law, prepare memoranda of law and generally assist judges in the work of the Court. Like other staff of the Court, law clerks are employees of the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Staff in these and many other roles are always there for Canadians, working to raise awareness of the Court and uphold the principles of fairness, access and openness which underpin the administration of justice.

Spotlight on Protocol Services

Nimble team upholds welcoming traditions of the Supreme Court of Canada

“You can never be too organized,” says Michel Gallant, Executive Director of Judicial Support and Protocol at the Supreme Court of Canada. It’s a phrase that has quickly become his team’s motto.

For the average person, planning for a single special occasion can feel overwhelming. But the Supreme Court has an ambitious outreach agenda that includes countless ceremonies, special events and international engagements every year.

That’s where the Court’s small but mighty Protocol team comes in. Last year alone, the team organized hundreds of visits and events and coordinated travel around the world. From passports to transportation, accommodation and hospitality, everything is meticulously planned in advance.

Working in Protocol requires exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.

“Events can change unexpectedly, but we always find a solution,” says Protocol Officer Marie Malo. She relishes the chance to be a problem-solver and likes to think of everything as a learning opportunity.

“Adaptability is so important,” says Julie Lestage, Manager, Events Coordination and Protocol Services.
Marie, Julie and Michel have a talent for making visitors feel welcome, from the moment they step into the Court’s majestic Grand Entrance Hall. They are immensely proud of their work because they know it has a positive impact on how the Court is perceived, both in Canada and beyond.

Julie’s desk drawer is full of thank you notes from delegations from all over the world. “It’s always nice when someone takes the time to send a hand-written note,” Julie shares with a big smile.

During his 22 years at the Supreme Court, Michel has welcomed 18 different justices and overseen with the Protocol team countless events.
“Every new initiative we work on is an exciting and rewarding experience,” he says. “But we wouldn’t be able to do any of it without collaboration from all branches and sectors of the Court.”

Visiting the Court

Take a Guided Tour

Interested in learning more about the Supreme Court of Canada? Tours are offered year-round in both English and French. During the summer months, reservations are not required but recommended for groups of 10 or more. Tours are available at all other times of the year by pre-arrangement only. For more information, please contact us at tour-visite@scc-csc.ca.

Participate in a Remote Tour

You are invited to join us for a virtual tour, which includes a presentation on the role and function of the Court from one of our knowledgeable, bilingual guides. For reservations, contact us at tour-visite@scc-csc.ca.

Attend a Hearing

Court hearings are open to the public. Hearings are held from Fall to Spring. Consult the schedule on the Supreme Court website and reserve your seat by contacting bookingregistry-reservationgreffe@scc-csc.ca. You may also view hearings both live and on-demand on the Court’s website. Whether you choose to follow proceedings in person, online, or on television, simultaneous interpretation is available in both English and French.

Access Case Information

Case information is available on the Supreme Court website. Judgments are also posted online, along with a one-page summary of each decision called the Case in Brief.

Connect with Us

We also encourage Canadians to stay connected with the Court on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Supreme Court of canada in action