Supreme Court of Canada Fun Facts - Did you know?

Did you know?
• The Supreme Court sat for the first time on January 17, 1876, but did not have any cases to hear. In April of that year, it heard its first case. It sat for one week in June and disposed of three cases. In the following January, it started holding regular sessions with a full agenda.



• Should the Governor General die, become incapacitated, or be absent from the country for a period of more than one month, the Chief Justice or, if that office is vacant, the senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, would become the Administrator of Canada and exercise all the powers and duties of the Governor General.



• The judges are appointed by the Governor in Council. They may remain in the position until age 75.


• Puisne judge: The word “puisne” is an old French word meaning younger. This term, used by the Supreme Court, distinguishes the Chief Justice from the other eight judges.


• The cornerstone of the Court building is dated May 19, 1939, and was supposed to be laid by King  George VI. Queen Elizabeth laid the cornerstone in the presence of the King, her husband, on May 20, 1939.




• There are two flagstaffs at the front of the Supreme Court building. The Canadian flag to the west is hoisted daily. The other flag flies only when the Court is sitting.



• Two 3-metre high bronze statues have been erected on the steps of the Supreme Court building. These works from the early 1920s were created to be a part of a huge memorial to King Edward VII and were to be stored until its completion. The memorial to Edward VII was never finished. Made by Toronto artist Walter S. Allward (creator and architect of the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge in France), JUSTICIA (JUSTICE) and VERITAS (TRUTH), were forgotten for almost 50 years. In 1969 they were found in their crates buried under a parking lot. They were erected on their present site in 1970.



• The judges wear the red robes trimmed with white Canadian mink only for special occasions, such as the swearing in of new justices or the reading of the Speech from the Throne.