The Democracy Watch Case at the Supreme Court of Canada

It has been a busy couple of weeks, mainly because earlier this month I appeared with Sujit Choudhry at the Supreme Court of Canada to argue the appeal in Democracy Watch v. Attorney General of Canada. I had never actually done oral argument in person at the Supreme Court, so this was a fascinating experience — and timely too, as the Court is about to move out of the current courthouse for a lengthy renovation project.

I do not want to say too much about the case or the hearing at this point — there will be plenty of time for that when the Court makes its decision, probably later this year. You can read the written materials and view the webcast here. A particularly useful innovation is the availability on the Court’s website of condensed books, which contain a summary of the party’s proposed argument on the day of the hearing, along with excerpts from key relevant documents and decisions. And, if you want a brief overview, this piece on the University of Ottawa’s website is very nicely done.

Lastly, a note of thanks to the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute for arranging a practice session in advance of the hearing, which was invaluable; anyone with an appeal at the Court should take advantage of their services!

This content has been updated on January 27, 2026 at 23:23.