Judicial education is a key priority for the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Our associate judges regularly participate in continuing education programs to stay on top of current developments in substantive and procedural law, social context, and judicial ethics.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice’s commitment to judicial education begins when an associate judge is newly appointed. Each new associate judge is assigned a mentor judge or associate judge and is given a list of judges and associate judges from across the province who have volunteered to answer judicial colleagues’ questions in their areas of expertise. New associate judges are also given the opportunity to shadow experienced judicial colleagues conduct hearings and conferences in the relevant areas of the Court’s work, whether that is civil, family, Construction Act, or Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act matters.

Newly appointed associate judges also attend a training program designed for new judges offered by the National Judicial Institute, an independent, judge led organization dedicated to judicial education.

Ongoing Judicial Education

The Court’s Associate Judges Education Committee determines the ongoing judicial education required for associate judges, including the topics covered at the associate judges’ annual education seminar each September. Associate judges also attend the annual spring and fall judicial education conferences hosted jointly by the Court and the National Judicial Institute.