First event will take place in Halifax in November, with additional symposiums planned for 2027
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Sean Fraser has announced a national judicial symposium tour in partnership with the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) to encourage qualified lawyers from diverse backgrounds to consider judicial appointments.
The first symposium will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on November 20, 2026, with additional events scheduled across Canada in 2027.
The symposiums will bring together members of the legal community to discuss judicial independence, the federal judicial appointments process, and the responsibilities associated with serving as a judge in Canada.
The initiative also aims to encourage accomplished lawyers from different communities, professional backgrounds, and practice areas to apply for judicial appointments.
Fraser said the discussions would address the judiciary's independent role within Canada's federal system.
“One of Canada’s strengths is the balance built into our federation. Different orders of government have different responsibilities, and our courts have their own independent role in upholding the rule of law,” Fraser said in a statement.
CBA president Loreley Chekay welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the importance of attracting qualified candidates to judicial service.
“A strong justice system depends on an independent, highly qualified judiciary, and on talented lawyers being willing to serve,” Chekay said. “The CBA is proud to partner with the Minister on this national series, which will give lawyers across the country a clearer sense of the realities of judicial service in Canada.”
The Halifax symposium will form part of the CBA Nova Scotia branch's annual conference. Branch president Jason Cooke said the event would let practitioners from different areas of law learn more about judicial appointments.
The federal government appoints judges to federal courts, provincial and territorial superior courts, and the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs administers independent, non-partisan judicial advisory committees that assess applicants' qualifications and submit recommendations to the justice minister. Each province and territory has at least one committee comprising seven members representing the government, judiciary, legal profession, and public. The committees incorporate local input into their assessments of candidates. The justice minister also consults on candidates under consideration for appointment.
The Halifax event marks the federal government's first judicial symposium tour. Lawyers interested in attending can register through the CBA's website.
