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S-3Bill not proceeded with

Law to Change Rules for Judges

Changes to Judges Act

Introduced Nov 30, 2021·Last discussed Dec 15, 2021
Summary

This proposed law wanted to change how judges are managed in Canada. It would have created new rules for dealing with complaints about judges. It also would have set up different panels of people, including some who are not lawyers, to review these complaints. These changes would affect all judges in superior courts across Canada. It would also affect people who might want to make a complaint about a judge's behavior. The proposed law aimed to make the process of reviewing judges' conduct more transparent and fair. It also wanted to ensure that judges maintain public trust and confidence. This proposed law matters because it deals with the important issue of judicial accountability. Judges make important decisions that affect people's lives, so it's important to have a system in place to address concerns about their conduct. However, because this proposed law is not moving forward right now, these changes will not be happening.

Where This Lands on Key Issues

Where this proposed law falls on the policy spectrums that Canadians care about

Political & Electoral ReformProportional representation

The bill addresses the management of judges, which relates to the functioning of the political system and could be seen as a minor reform to judicial governance.

This bill
Bill Quality
Solid

This proposed law aims to create a more structured process for reviewing complaints about judges. It sets up clear reasons for removing a judge and establishes rosters of judges and lay people to participate in review panels.

Things to Watch For

  • The number of judges and lay people on the rosters is left to the Council's discretion, which could affect the diversity and availability of panel members.
  • The selection criteria for lay persons on the roster, beyond basic requirements, are determined by the Council, potentially influencing the perspectives included in reviews.
  • The law doesn't specify how the public can access or influence the selection criteria for lay persons.
Progress

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This proposed law did not move forward

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