Looking Back, Looking Forward: Judicial Independence in Canada and the World

Thursday November 29 and Friday November 30, 2007

University of Toronto

Co-sponsored by the Faculty of Law, the School for Public Policy and Governance, and the Law Society of Upper Canada

Fall 2007 marked the tenth anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada's landmark decision in the Provincial Judges Reference (1997).  In this case, the Supreme Court recognized judicial independence as a fundamental norm in our constitutional order.  But judicial independence is a concept that is frequently mentioned but rarely discussed let alone analyzed in any sort of systematic way.  This conference brought together scholars in different disciplines from Canada and around the world as well as public policy makers to discuss the important connection between judicial independence and democracy and link the discussion of the issue in Canada to broader events around the world.

Conference Location:

  • Thursday afternoon and evening, November 29, 2007: Law Society of Upper Canada
  • Friday, November 30, 2007: Faculty of Law, University of Toronto

Both venues are wheelchair accessible (assistance is necessary for elevator access at Faculty of Law)