Tag law

Saskatchewan’s Access to Justice Week Includes In-Person Events to Connect People with Legal Information, Assistance

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Saskatchewan’s Access to Justice Week will take place from October 27–November 2, 2025. The theme of this year’s event aligns with the theme of other Access to Justice Weeks taking place during the same period: Ten Years Forward: Expanding Justice, Embracing Inclusion.

In-person events taking place in Saskatchewan for Access to Justice Week include:

  • Saskatoon Public Library Law Fair – October 23, 2025 (prior to the official start of A2J Week), 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm CT
    The Saskatoon Public Library is hosting a free, drop-in Law Fair to connect people with legal information, assistance, and services from government and non-profit organizations. Attendees can join free presentations on common legal topics, get help during family law and wills/estates sessions, and explore a tradeshow featuring local and provincial organizations, all at no cost.

  • Community Social Justice Fair – October 27, 2025, 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm CT
    This event is designed for community members who are unhoused or who experience poverty, injustice, or systemic barriers. The Fair will bring together a wide range of supports and services, with a focus on reciprocity and community care. Attendees can connect with:
    • Information and resources about legal services
    • Employment and education information
    • Food, giveaways, and a photobooth
    • Health information and on-site services
    • Naloxone kits and information about the drug toxicity crisis 

  • Regina Public Library Law Fair – November 1, 2025, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm CT
    The Regina Public Library is hosting a free, drop-in Law Fair to connect people with legal information, assistance, and services from government and non-profit organizations. The event aims to raise awareness of legal rights and responsibilities and to provide guidance on accessing legal information and support. Attendees can join free presentations on common legal topics, get help during family law and wills/estates sessions, and explore a tradeshow featuring local and provincial organizations, all at no cost.

Virtual events are available to stakeholders in Saskatchewan through Ontario’s Access to Justice Week: https://lso.ca/theactiongroup/access-to-justice-week.

For more information about Saskatchewan’s Access to Justice Week, including the location of in-person events or information about online engagement, please visit: https://www.lawsociety.sk.ca/initiatives/access-to-justice-week/.

New Study Examines Canadians’ Knowledge and Views on the Supreme Court

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Non-profit organization, the Angus Reid Institute has published data from a new study on Canadians’ views on the Supreme Court of Canada. Data from the study are organized in the final report according to the following three themes:

  • Knowledge about the Supreme Court
  • Views on the Supreme Court’s Impartiality
  • Supreme Court Reforms

The study reveals that more than half of Canadians believe either justices can hold other jobs (12%) or are unsure (45%) and that justices are appointed for life. Approximately one-third (31%) didn’t know about the term limits. Interestingly, while roughly two-thirds (63%) of Americans can correctly identify at least two Supreme Court justices from a list containing a combination of decoy names and the names of justices, only about one-quarter (25%) of Canadians can do the same.

The study also reveals that a majority of Canadians (62%) believe that the Supreme Court of Canada is impartial, while 22% believe that it is biased. A majority (65%) believe that law is more influential than politics in the decisions dispensed by the Supreme Court. Despite belief in the impartiality of the Supreme Court, fewer than half of Canadians (49%) say that they have confidence in the Supreme Court, while 42% say that they do not have confidence in the Supreme Court.

For other findings from the Angus Reid Institute study, or to view the methodology, demographic characteristics of study respondents, or the questionnaire, please visit: https://angusreid.org/supreme-court-appointment-impartial-bilingualism/.   

Canadian Judicial Council Outlines Guidelines for Use of AI in Courts

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The Canadian Judicial Council (CJC), the body responsible for improving the quality of judicial services provided in Canada’s superior courts, has issued new guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in Canadian courts. According to a CJC news release, in issuing these guidelines, the CJC aims to “raise awareness of the risks inherent in the use of artificial intelligence tools” and provide information on how AI tools can be effectively and appropriately applied to assist judges in their responsibilities.

There are seven guidelines discussed in the report:

  • Protect judicial independence
  • Use AI consistently with core values and ethical rules
  • Have regard to the legal aspects of AI use
  • Subject AI tools to stringent information security standards
  • Ensure that AI tools used in court applications are able to provide understandable explanations for their decision-making output
  • Ensure regular tracking of the impact of AI deployments by courts
  • Develop a program of education and provide user support

Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Canadian Courts was prepared for the Canadian Judicial Council by Martin Felsky, Ph.D., J.D., and Professor Karen Eltis. It is available in English here: https://cjc-ccm.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2024/AI%20Guidelines%20-%20FINAL%20-%202024-09%20-%20EN.pdf and in French here: https://cjc-ccm.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2024/AI%20Guidelines%20-%20FINAL%202024-09%20-%20FR.pdf.

The news release is available in English here: https://cjc-ccm.ca/en/news/canadian-judicial-council-issues-guidelines-use-artificial-intelligence-canadian-courts and in French here: https://cjc-ccm.ca/fr/nouvelles/le-conseil-canadien-de-la-magistrature-publie-des-lignes-directrices-sur-lutilisation-de.