Voices in Mosaic is a space where people like you across Canada share their perspectives. Not as experts—but as people living it.
V.O.I.C.E. is built for a moment when your perspective is starting to take shape—when you may be reflecting more on the role of judges, courts, the justice system, and the rule of law in the world around you. Explore the five V.O.I.C.E. themes, learn what they mean, and read questions that can inspire your submission.
Show or tell us how you think about the role of judges, courts, the justice system, and the rule of law within a democracy! Each V.O.I.C.E. theme explores a different part of Canada’s justice system. Below are some ideas but feel free to explore other questions that might come to mind. Start with whichever one interests you most.
Judges rely on core principles like diligence, integrity, and impartiality, which are grounded in values such as equality and respect for the rule of law. However, how these values are understood can evolve to correspond with the changing experiences of people and society.
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Values are generally understood to be a person’s beliefs which guide their behaviour. For example, they often inform what a person considers right and wrong or important in life. Some of the core values embodied in the justice system and our Constitution have been identified as respect for the rule of law, fairness, equality, and preservation of the democratic process.
The values that Canadians consider important serve as the foundation for principles governing the judicial role. Taken together, the principles of judicial independence, integrity and respect, diligence and competence, equality, and impartiality define the judicial role. While these overarching principles guide the judiciary, they do not exist in isolation from the communities the justice system serves. Evolving expectations, societal developments, and new understandings of issues relevant to the judiciary continue to inform how these principles are interpreted and applied.
For example, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and a variety of statutes guarantee equality before and under the law and equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination. This approach to equality acknowledges the equal worth and dignity of all persons. It also seeks to ensure that discrimination is prevented and rectified.
Equality, according to law, is fundamental to justice and is strongly linked to judicial impartiality and to public confidence in the administration of justice.
Based on personal experiences, beliefs, and circumstances, Canadians may hold different views about what these values should be, and which ones ought to take priority. Perhaps you have had an experience that shaped what you consider to be an important value?
The rule of law in Canada means that everyone is equally bound by laws that protect rights, maintain order, and ensure conflicts are resolved fairly through an impartial justice system.
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Canadian democracy is founded upon the rule of law and consists of three independent, but interrelated functions: the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch. The legislative branch is responsible for making the law. The executive branch is responsible for administering and enforcing legislation. And the judicial branch interprets and applies the law.
The expression “law” refers to the set of rules that govern relationships among citizens, regulate commerce and community life. They also protect people from the unlawful acts of individuals or the state. These rules are not arbitrary – they arise from centuries of legal thought and collective experience that define how we live together peacefully in a free and democratic society.
The rule of law expresses a broader societal agreement – both individual and collective – that everyone, without exception, is bound by and subject to the law. It reflects our shared understanding that laws apply equally to all, no matter who they are or where they come from. The rule of law provides that the law is supreme over the acts of both the government and private persons. There is, in short, one law for all. In addition, the exercise of all public power (government) must find its ultimate source in law.
The rule of law is a cornerstone of Canada’s constitutional democracy. It is what ensures accountability, protects rights and freedoms, and allows justice to be administered without fear or favour. Laws provide order and stability by guiding how people interact with one another. However, they also serve a deeper purpose: when conflicts arise, they prevent individuals from taking matters into their own hands. Rather than settling disputes through violence or retaliation, Canadians rely on an impartial legal system to resolve them fairly and peacefully.
It is also what distinguishes Canada from regimes where no such protections exist – where rulers act above the law, where dissent is silenced, and where rights depend on the will of the powerful. In Canada, by contrast, the rule of law guarantees that no one – no office, no institution, no individual – stands above the laws that apply to us all.
Canadians hold judges to the highest standards of conduct and character. If asked what qualities they expect in a judge, most people would name attributes such as competence, impartiality, wisdom, patience, open-mindedness, respect, diligence, courage, and integrity—and rightly so. The credibility of the justice system depends on the confidence that judges possess these qualities and apply them consistently and fairly in every case.
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Public confidence in the judiciary is essential to an effective judicial system and, ultimately, the rule of law. Within that system, judges hold positions of significant trust, confidence and responsibility. Conduct, in and out of court, that exhibits integrity ensures public respect for and confidence in the individual judge. More significantly, it contributes to public confidence in the judiciary and the judicial system as a whole.
Public expectations of the integrity of judges are understandably high. Behaviour considered acceptable if exhibited by some members of the public may not be appropriate for members of the judiciary. Judges are expected to be mindful of the ways in which their conduct would be perceived by reasonable and informed members of the community and whether that perception is likely to lessen respect for the judge or the judiciary as a whole.
For centuries, legal processes led by impartial and independent judges have been recognized as fundamental to the rule of law. Impartiality is a fundamental qualification of a judge and a core attribute of the judiciary. Impartiality requires not only the absence of bias and prejudgment, but also the absence of any appearance of partiality. This means that judges need to treat everyone alike as well as in an equitable and fair way.
In the courtroom, judges avoid remarks or behaviour that could be seen as biased, sarcastic, or unnecessarily harsh. Judges do not weigh or express personal opinions in deciding cases. In their written and oral reasons, they exercise restraint, addressing only what is required to decide the case. Every word spoken or written from the bench can influence how justice is perceived. Even superfluous comments can, if ill-judged, undermine public confidence in the fairness and dignity of the judicial process.
A judge's duty of restraint limits their participation in public discussion or responses to criticism in the media or political forums. While judges may attend public events or give speeches on legal or educational topics, they avoid expressing views on issues that are, or could come, before the courts, or that are politically or socially controversial. This deliberate silence preserves their independence and prevents them from being drawn into political or media controversy.
Diligence means that judicial duties are performed in a skillful, careful, attentive and timely way. Judges should exhibit diligence and competence in the performance of all their judicial duties.
Judges are uniquely placed to make a variety of contributions to the administration of justice. Subject to the limitations imposed by their roles, judges can, for example, take part in legal education programs for students, lawyers and judges. They can also participate in activities to make the law and the legal process more understandable and accessible to the public, such as giving lectures, participating in moot courts or through legal writing.
A well-educated and informed judiciary that adheres to high standards of competence is essential to preserving public confidence. Judges should have and maintain knowledge of the law, as well as the impact of the law on those it affects.
Judges also need to demonstrate good judgment as well as good listening skills. They should be willing to consider all sides of an argument and to articulate clearly the reasons for the conclusion.
Courts in Canada interpret and apply the law, resolve disputes fairly, and protect rights and freedoms by ensuring that laws and government actions are consistent with the Constitution. Each type of court has its own jurisdiction and authority to decide specific types of cases. Courts operate transparently so the public can see and evaluate how justice is carried out.
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Canada’s justice system is made up of various courts, organized by level and jurisdiction. Their role is to resolve disputes impartially and to ensure that the Constitution, statutes, and regulations are respected. Judges in the various courts decide cases based on the law and evidence, not on political or personal considerations or according to what is reported in the media or on social media. Judges also safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms, ensuring that every person enjoys equal justice under the law. When the law is interpreted and applied in individual cases, court decisions may reveal gaps, tensions, or unintended consequences.
The open court principle dictates that with few exceptions, cases in Canada are heard in public. This allows citizens and the media to observe proceedings firsthand. This openness enables Canadians to see justice being done and to evaluate for themselves the fairness of the process.
Judicial independence allows courts to make decisions that may be unpopular but necessary – to protect minorities, restrain the abuse of power, and uphold constitutional rights. Canadians benefit from this independence every day.
Judicial independence refers to the liberty and responsibility of judges to hear and decide cases that come before them in accordance with their conscience, without interference from others, and based upon the facts and the law. The guarantee of judicial independence aims to ensure that judges are not influenced or affected by individuals, politicians, the media, or any factors other than the facts and the law of the case before them. Judges are, and must reasonably be perceived to be, independent, both individually and institutionally. Judicial independence is not the private right of judges. It is the foundation of judicial impartiality and a constitutional right of all.
Judicial independence matters because it guarantees that rights and freedoms are protected, and justice delivered by judges who are impartial, fair, and free. It is the promise that in Canada, the law governs all, and that justice belongs to everyone.
Laws shape everyday life—from how we work and live to how conflicts are resolved. When disagreements can’t be settled, courts step in to make fair decisions, meaning the justice system affects everyone in real, practical ways.
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The law affects nearly every aspect of our lives. We have laws to deal with crimes like robbery and murder. And we have laws that govern activities like driving a car, getting a job, and getting married. Laws give us rules of conduct that protect everyone's rights. Laws also balance individual rights with our obligations as members of society. For example, when a law gives a person a legal right to drive, it also makes it a duty for a driver to know how to drive and to follow the rules of the road. But even in a well-ordered society, people disagree, and conflicts arise.
A person may be charged with a criminal offence, become a victim of one, or be summoned as a witness. They may face a dispute with an employer, a landlord, a neighbour, a business, or an insurance company. Families may turn to the courts to resolve issues relating to separation, parenting, support, property, or estates. Individuals and businesses may challenge government decisions affecting benefits, taxes, immigration status, licences, or regulatory obligations. These matters are generally decided by a judge.
When a legal problem reaches that stage, the individual is no longer negotiating or persuading an opposing party. Instead, they are asking a judge to decide the matter.
This means that justice is not an abstract concept but is inherently linked to the experiences of many Canadians. The administration of justice, the courts, judges, and the rule of law affect everyone.
You can take this in any direction. Here are a few prompts that might spark ideas:
How are the values of equality and respect for the rule of law reflected in our courts? Which matter most to you in a fair justice system?
Are there other values, such as openness, safety and diversity, that should be prioritized in the administration of justice?
Why are integrity, impartiality, and diligence important for judges?
How do Canadians benefit from an impartial judiciary?
Why does a democracy need a strong rule of law?
What could threaten the rule of law in a democracy?
What qualities would you want in a judge deciding something important about your life and why?
What would a society look like without courts or judges?
How can the justice system reflect the experiences and voices of young people?
What can be done to ensure that Canadians perceive the judiciary as independent?
What role do courts play in a democratic society?
What role can you play in preserving and enhancing the rule of law?
If you haven’t found a topic that excites you yet, take a look at the following websites to see if anything will inspire you:
Disclaimer: The Canadian Judicial Council is not responsible for the content provided by other organizations and does not guarantee their accuracy.
The Council was created in 1971 by Parliament to maintain and improve the quality of judicial services in Canada's superior courts. It has the power and duty to investigate complaints into the conduct of federally appointed judges. The Council is also responsible for the continuing education of judges, as well as for developing other tools and programs to maintain public confidence in the judicial system.
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