Welcome from the President

Welcome to the website of the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association (CSCJA). Founded in 1979, the CSCJA represents nearly all federally appointed judges in Canada.

With our strong and unified voice, the Association works for both its members and the public with initiatives that protect and enhance judicial independence and the administration of justice, while supporting individual judges in their roles on issues of compensation, health and wellness, and education.

This work is accomplished with the countless volunteer hours of our Executive, our Board of Directors, our Council, and the many committees that execute the objects of our association. We truly appreciate their work; we could not function without it. I encourage all members of the CSCJA to get involved in a governance role, on a committee, or on a special project, and I would be pleased to discuss opportunities with anyone interested. You may contact me on any matter at president@cscja.ca. You can also obtain more information by getting in touch with the Council member or Director from your province, territory or court.

The next 15 months or so are going to be crucial for our members. The Quadrennial Commission is about to begin its work, and it is vital that we see changes reflective of today’s need to attract outstanding candidates to the bench and that will bring the financial security, ensuring judicial independence. Further, as the results of our recent national survey of members illustrate, the health and wellness of our judges is strained under the pressure of an increasing workload and insufficient resources.

Confronting these challenges during my term as President, I pledge to listen to the suggestions and concerns of members, to communicate regularly about the Association’s news and efforts, and to work tirelessly to make a positive difference. I will especially support our volunteers in key areas, including compensation, workplace and personal wellness, and ensuring adequate resources to execute your roles with efficiency and with independence.

Finally, we will continue to leverage the relationships that we have with key stakeholders to expand on our efforts related to access to justice, protecting and enhancing security for our judges, educating the public on the role of the judge and the independence of the judiciary, and our international contributions to these same principles.

This term is not a legacy project for me. I am not interested in that. This is not my Association – it exists and operates for our members. I commit to being a strong voice for these members; not mere bluster, but an effective voice that will demand to be heard in an effort to make positive change for all CSCJA members, full-time judges, supernumerary judges, and retired judges alike.

Now let’s go get the results we are aiming for.

Hon. Justice Clayton Conlan
2024-2025 President