Library of Parliament Legislative Summary of Bill to Amend Judges Act

The Library of Parliament has published its legislative summary of Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Judges Act:

"By replacing the existing complaints process regarding alleged misconduct with a new system, Bill C-9 changes how complaints against federally appointed judges are handled. The existing process was established in 1971 under the Judges Act, which defines the criteria for removing a judge from office and prescribes certain other requirements; procedural elements of the complaints process are largely set out in Canadian Judicial Council (CJC) policy documents and by laws."

"The CJC is a federal body created under the Judges Act and empowered to investigate public complaints and referrals from the Minister of Justice of Canada or a provincial/territorial attorney general about the conduct of federally appointed judges. It does not review judges’ decisions. After conducting an inquiry, the CJC may make recommendations to the minister, including the recommendation to remove a judge from office. The CJC’s judicial conduct oversight role is part of its general mandate to help the judicial system remain efficient, uniform and accountable. Its 41 members include all chief justices and associate chief justices and certain senior judges from federal and provincial/territorial superior courts."

It is possible to follow the progress of the bill through both Chambers of the Canadian Parliament on the LEGISinfo website.