Canada's System of Justice

This publication provides Canadians with a generalized view of how Canada's Justice System works. Specifically, it defines the differences between public and private law, how laws are kept up to date and the role that the Canadian Constitution in defining the fundamental rules and principles that govern Canada. Covered in both the PDF and HTML files are the roles of the public in the Justice system, alongside what is expected of Canadians when they are interacting with the Justice system as either a juror, witness or other positions. Viewers of this document in PDF format should note that as of 2015, it has been considered to be archived and will henceforth not be updated.

Note to reader: This booklet provides general information about Canada’s justice system. It is not intended as legal advice. If you have a problem, you should consult a lawyer or other qualified professional.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 21:58 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 21:58 (UTC)
contact_email OG-GO@justice.gc.ca
criticality_level ["general_public"]
geographic_scope []
open_canada_collection publication
open_canada_date_modified 2017-11-20 00:00:00
open_canada_date_published 2015-01-01 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"fr": ["Ministère de la Justice", "Système judiciaire du Canada", "Lois", "Constitution canadienne", "Justice réparatrice", "Structures judiciaires", "État de droit"], "en": ["Department of Justice", "Canada's Court System", "Laws", "Canadian Constitution", "Restorative Justice", "Judicial Structures", "Rule of Law", "Restorative Justice"]}
open_canada_subject ["government_and_politics", "law", "persons"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr Le système de justice au Canada
update_frequency as_needed