2014-2014

Annual Report

APRIL 1, 2014 TO MARCH 31, 2015

01/A Message To Readers

Dear Readers:

We have decided to approach the production of this year’s Annual Report (and subsequent ones if readers approve) in a different way.

We know that readers are most interested in Council’s work on judicial conduct. Specifically, readers want to see more information about how complaints about judicial conduct are treated. Readers and visitors to the website also want more timely information. Council’s recent practice of publishing a brief description of a handful of complaints once a year within an Annual Report is now seen as insufficient. Canadians want to know more about our work, and want more frequent updates.

We have heard you and want to do better. We can, and will, make better use of Council’s website to meet the information needs of those who visit.

The New Annual Report will now focus squarely on financial and caseload reporting with a brief section that presents Highlights of Council’s work - in the areas of judicial education and judicial independence, for instance. And, most exciting is a new section for the website that will feature regular updates on judicial complaints.

We hope that readers will appreciate our desire to be responsive to your requests to know more about our work on a more timely basis. While we transition to this new method of reporting to Canadians about the work of Council, we ask that you remain patient.

While we continue to work to reorganize and rewrite our web content, please find below a Highlights Page and Council’s financial and caseload reports for 2014-15.

02/HIGHLIGHTS

Judicial Conduct Reforms

Council continued its work to reform judicial conduct and consulted extensively with key stakeholders including the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association, the Minister of Justice and his officials, and the Canadian public. These consultations were key in developing proposals for added efficiency and effectiveness of the process. While the reforms will be launched in 2015-16, much of the work to define the new process was undertaken during this reporting period.

Public Information and Media Relations

Council’s commitment to increased transparency continued to drive much of its work in 2014-15. Under the leadership of its Public Information Committee, Council issued 13 news releases during this reporting period to inform Canadians about the status of various matters including its work on Self-Represented Litigants and the work of three Inquiry Committees. Council continues to respond to all requests in a time efficient manner whether they be from the media or to Council’s general inquiries email address.

Judicial Education

The ongoing work of Council’s Judicial Education Committee reflects Canadians’ expectations that those who serve as judges have the legal skills, competence and temperament suited to the difficult task of deciding criminal and civil disputes. The Council, through its Judicial Education Committee, worked to ensure all federally-appointed judges are provided with ongoing opportunities for professional development. In cooperation with educational partners, the Council actively supports the development and delivery of education programs in all areas of the law. Programs are also offered in such areas as social context issues, communication skills, the challenges of self-represented litigants, to name a few.

Protecting Judicial Independence

Council is currently working on a sizeable project to communicate Canadians key aspects of judicial independence and what it means for our citizenry. Protecting against any activity that attempts to undermine or infringe is a preoccupation of Council’s Protecting Judicial Independence ad hoc Committee who is working to build information modules that speak to the separation of powers, the celebration of the rule of law and judicial independence as a cornerstone of the Canadian democratic system. Council looks forward to launching this project next year.

03/Caseload

Number of correspondence sent:

564

Number of complaints opened

173

Number of complaints closed

206

Number of complaints carried over from last fiscal year

63

Number of mandate letters

164

Number of 2.2.

17

Number of no reply

94

Readers are encouraged to visit the new Summary of Complaints section on the website (under construction) for more detailed information on the types of complaints received and they were treated.

04/Financial Statement

Fiscal Year 2014-2015

$1,037,830

Personnel

$103,500

Transportation & Telecom

$12,988

Information

$319,925

Professional & Special Services

$13,611

Rentals

$11,387

Purchase Repairs & Maintenance

$19,102

Material & Supplies

$9,226

Acquisition Machinery & Equipment

$9,624

Other Subsidies and Payments

Total Operating Budget

$1,537,244