Canadian Court System

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Provincial Court (Level 1):

• Are divided within each province into various divisions defined by subject matter of their respective jurisdictions.

• Over 700 locations across Canada

• Smaller offences are tried here (Ex. Traffic violations, minor assaults, young offenders)

Superior Court (Level 2):

• More serious crimes are tried in these courts (Ex. Serious sexual offences, Murder Trials, Serious drug charges etc…)

• Most trials here are jury trials

Federal/Provincial court of appeal (Level 3):

• 1st level of appeal

• 3 judges hear your appeal and approve or decline your appeal

• If you are not happy with decision at appeals court you can request another appeal to the supreme court of Canada BUT process is very thorough (Must be grounds to appeal - cannot just appeal because you do not like decision)

Supreme court of Canada (Level 4):

• General court of appeal for Canada

• Hears appeals from both federal and provincial court systems

• Only one site which is located in Ottawa

• 9 judges - 1 Chief Justice and 8 puisne Judges (Puisne means ranked after)

• All supreme court judges are appointed by the Governor-In-Council

• Current Chief Justice is the right Right Honourable Richard Wagner

• 3 judges must be from Quebec (Traditionally there are 3 from Ontario, 2 from western Canada, and one from atlantic provinces

• Not all judges have to be there to hear a trial (only requirement is that there is an uneven number #. It must be 5, 7, or 9)