Tag Archives: Supreme Court of Canada

Celebrating the Legacy of Canada’s Supreme Court

Posted on by
Comment

The year 2025 marks a special milestone for the Supreme Court of Canada as it celebrates its 150th anniversary. Over the years, its chambers have been the setting for landmark cases that have shaped the foundation of this country. Some decisions have reinforced fundamental principles of justice, while others serve as reminders of how far we’ve come. These cases provide an opportunity to reflect on our history and appreciate its ongoing evolution.

At the heart of these rulings are the Judges, many of whom once walked the same corridors as today’s law students at McGill University. Their decisions on equality, religious accommodation, Indigenous rights, gender and sexuality rights, and property rights have played a great role in shaping Canadian society.

To commemorate this legacy, the Nahum Gelber Law Library is hosting an exhibition that pays tribute to the Judges who have shaped the Court’s history, with a highlight of pivotal cases that illustrate its influence on Canadian law.

We invite you to explore this curated exhibition on the first floor of the Nahum Gelber Law Library. Take this opportunity to reflect on the path of justice and the Court’s lasting impact. For those interested in further engaging with its history, additional resources are available on the exhibition website (https://ngllexhibit.wixsite.com/150th-anniversary). Join us in celebrating 150 years of the Supreme Court of Canada!

Exhibition curated by Sonia Smith and Jessica Fernandes

Historical Supreme Court of Canada Judgments Now Available Online

Posted on by
Comment

The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has made all decisions published in the Supreme Court Reports dating back to 1876 available on the SCC Judgments website.  All of these newly-added SCC decisions can also be found in the CanLII database. Please visit the official SCC Judgments website to access the judgments.

Article: Peter W. Hogg, Canadian Constitutional Law.

Posted on by
Comment

If you read only one book while at the Law school, which I hope is not the case :), it must have been the “Constitutional Law of Canada” by Peter W. Hogg.  His recent article published in the International journal of legal information, tells the story behind the creation of this most-cited book in decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada.

“Seeds” at the Centaur Theater: Legal Case Turned into Play

Posted on by
Comment

Based on interviews and court trial transcripts from Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser, 2004 SCC 34, [2004] 1 SCR 902, “Seeds” brings us into a maze of patent wars, opinionated scientists and clashes between farmers and the biotechnology industry.
When Schmeiser famously asked the question, “who owns life?” before the Supreme Court of Canada, his words galvanized the anti-GMO movement around the world.

You can see the play from October 29 to November 24, 2013.

Post-1907 decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada available on CanLii

Posted on by
Comment

Legal researchers can now access on CanLII a collection of over 9,000 decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada dating back to 1907. These decisions are fully integrated and cross-linked to any subsequent case on CanLII in which they are referenced. The addition of a 1,600 cases ensures that CanLII users will have access to all judgments published in the Supreme Court Reports since 1907.  More comprehensive collection of 1876-1907 cases can be found at the Supreme Court of Canada website.

Law students can study in the Supreme Court of Canada library

Posted on by
Comment

The Supreme Court of Canada has changed its Policy on Library Use to extend use of the Court Library to students of law faculties. Now, Faculty Members and students in good standing of Faculties of Law are permitted to use the Library upon presentation of proof of identity and obtaining of a visitor’s pass from Court Security which must be worn at all times while on the Library’s premises. Service to external users is limited to assistance in the location and use of library materials including the use of the on-line catalogue and a limited number of electronic research services.