The Supreme Court of Canada ("SCC") is the highest court in the country, tasked with interpreting the law and resolving disputes of national importance. Each year, the SCC issues a report summarizing its most significant cases and outlining its judicial activities. The 2022 Year in Review Report (the "Report") was recently released and provides valuable insights into the Court's role in shaping Canada's legal landscape. In this blog post, we will delve into the key highlights from the Report, a full copy of which is available here.
By the Numbers
During 2022, the SCC continued to experience a decrease in its caseload, which began during the pandemic. The SCC heard 52 appeals and rendered 53 judgements. Among those, the SCC heard 23 appeals 'as of right', meaning the SCC's permission was not required for the appeal to be heard. Conversely, the SCC granted 35 out of 478 applications for leave to appeal.
The cases heard by the SCC can be broadly divided into three categories: (1) Public Law; (2) Criminal Law; and (3) Private Law. In the Public Law category, the SCC interpreted Canada's Constitution and handled appeals arising from non-court decisions, such as those by governments and their agencies and tribunals. Criminal Law appeals dealt with prosecutions under the Criminal Code, R.S.C., 1985 c. C-46 (the "Criminal Code"), or other laws which prohibit conduct and impose punishments. Lastly, Private Law cases involved disputes between individuals that were taken to court for determination. Of the 52 appeals heard by the SCC, roughly 65% were in the Criminal Law category, 23% were in the Public Law category, and the remaining 12% were in the Private Law category.
In 2022, the majority of appeals heard by the SCC originated from Ontario (11), followed by Quebec (9), Alberta (8), and British Columbia (7). No appeals were heard from Manitoba...
