CANADIAN COURT SYSTEM STRUCTURE

CANADIAN COURT SYSTEM STRUCTURE

LEVEL 1-PROVINCIAL COURTSAre divided within each province into various divisions defined by subject matter of their respective jurisdictionsOver 700 locations across CanadaSmaller offences are tried here (e.g. Traffic violations, assault, young offenders)LEVEL 2-FEDERAL, TAX COURT OF CANADA, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL SUPERIOR COURTS OF GENERAL JURISDICTION (AKA SUPERIOR COURT)More serious offences are tried in these courts (e.g. Serious sexual offences, murder trials, serious drug charges, etc...)Most trials here are jury trials

LEVEL 3-FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL & PROVINCIAL COURTS OF APPEAL1ST level of appeal3 judges hear your appeal and approve or decline appealIf you are not happy with decision at appeals court you can request another appeal to the supreme court of CanadaBUT process is very thorough (must be grounds to appeal-cannot just appeal because you do not like decision)LEVEL 4-SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

SUPREME COURT OF CAN CONT...General Court of Appeal for CanadaHears appeals from both Federal and Provincial Court SystemsOnly one cite located in Ottawa

SUPREME COURT OF CAN CONT...9 judges-1 Chief Justice and 8 puisne judges (puisne means ranked after)All supreme court judges are appointed by the Governor-in-CouncilCurrent Chief Justice is the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin)3 judges must be from Quebec (traditionally there are 3 from Ontario, 2 from Western Canada and 1 from the Atlantic provinces)Not all judges have to be there to hear a trial (only requirement is that there is an uneven #)

Webcasts of Supreme Court of Canada

http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/home-accueil/index-eng.aspx

http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/case-dossier/info/webcasts-webdiffusions-eng.aspx?ya=2013&ses=03&submit=Search