Judicial Independence Video

Want to teach your students about judicial independence and why it is important to Canadian democracy? If you answered “yes,” then the Judicial Independence: What it Means to You video is what you are looking for.

The video is included with a kit that features text and CD-ROM materials, which is a phenomenal resource for teachers and lawyers to educate students and the public about the importance of judicial independence.

The 20-minute video distinguishes the basic principles of judicial independence from different branches of government and explains why it is so important to Canadian democracy. It also includes discussion of the role of judges under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Appearing in the video are prominent expert leaders, such as Yves Fortier, Q.C., Senator Gérald Beaudoin, the Right Honorable Antonio Lamer (former Chief Justice of Canada), Thomas Heintzman, Q.C. of Toronto, and Madam Justice Claire L’Heureux Dubé of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Available in both English and French, the video is ideal for upper level high school students learning about the Canadian justice system. The video can also be instrumental to lawyers and judges when presenting or speaking on the issue of judicial independence.

Judicial Independence: What it Means to You is produced by the Canadian Judges Forum. It was released by the Supreme Court of Canada on Law Day 2000 and is now an annual project held in conjunction with Law Day.

For more information please contact Filippo Conte at the Ontario Bar Association by telephone at (416) 869-1047 ext 346 or via email at fconte@oba.org.