Transforming the Justice System

Title: Report on the Results of a Survey of Canadian Judges Concerning Technology in Judging
Date of the survey: 2022
Conducted by: the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice and Athabasca University
Survey target: Canadian Judges

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Judges around the world must grapple with technological change and its impact on their role and the judicial sector, which has only been emphasized by COVID-19. As jurisdictions across the globe adopt technologies in different ways, transnational collaborative research projects are necessary to understand the impact of that technology upon the administration of justice.

This report details the results of the Canadian component of an international survey of judges led by the University of Newcastle, Australia and conducted by scholars from several other countries including Ireland, the UK, and New Zealand. The purpose of the research is to have an informed understanding of the role of technology in the work of the judiciary. The goal of the survey was to gather information on the experiences of judges working with digital technology, how digital technology may impact their roles as adjudicators, and the attitudes of judges towards digital technology.

Findings from this and similar surveys may help in the allocation of government resources, as the justice sector becomes invested with more and more technology. Further, pinpointing the sectors of the justice system that need the most support could speak to how to deploy digital technology in such a way as to maximally reduce the barriers the public faces in resolving their legal disputes in court.

Despite the many efforts across the country to shift the justice system towards a user-centric model, progress has been inconsistent among jurisdictions.

CIAJ is working closely with various stakeholders across the country to develop specific initiatives aimed at transforming the justice system. 

In August 2023, stakeholders from New Brunswick’s justice community were brought together to discuss changes required to the province’s family law system and the role of digital technology. More national summits will be held in other provinces. 

The report entitled New Brunswick Access to Justice Summit, Digital Transformation: Putting People at the Heart of the Justice System summarizes the discussions and presents 7 changes to improve access to justice in the Province

"Publication of this report will coincide with a revival of an Access to Justice Committee for New Brunswick as the first of many steps in this vital journey. Working together and with renewed vigour, we will aim to make justice accessible, equitable, and efficient for all members of society."

— The Honourable J.C. Marc Richard, Chief Justice of New Brunswick

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Summits schedule

• August 28–29, 2023, New Brunswick (Fredericton, NB)

Please scroll down the page to view the available documents.

In the spring and fall of 2019, the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ) held provincial roundtables on the topic of systemic barriers to the representation of Indigenous peoples and racialized minorities on juries in Canada. The roundtables took place in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Atlantic Canada respectively.

Roundtables schedule

• April 6, 2019, Manitoba (Winnipeg)
• June 1, 2019, British Columbia (Vancouver)
• September 21, 2019, Atlantic Canada (Halifax, NS)
• November 2, 2019, Alberta (Calgary)

Please scroll down the page to view the available documents.

CIAJ held a set of roundtables in jurisdictions across Canada, composed of judges, defence lawyers, crown lawyers, and other important players in the criminal justice system. The goal of these individual roundtables discussed the pressing issue of lengthy criminal delays in a given jurisdiction, particularly after the influential decision of R v Jordan. A national symposium may be held at the end of the process, to share ideas and perspectives from each roundtable, with the goal of presenting concrete recommendations in a report representing a national outlook on the issue of criminal delays in Canada.

Roundtables Schedule

• December 2, 2017, British Columbia (Vancouver)
• October 13, 2018, Alberta (Edmonton)
• December 1, 2018, Nova Scotia (Halifax)