History of the Supreme Court of Canada

The Supreme Court of Canada, established in 1875, has served as the country's final court of appeal since 1949. Its history can be divided into three broad eras. From 1875 to 1949, it functioned as an intermediate appellate court, with decisions subject to review by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain. After 1949, the Court gained authority and legitimacy as Canada's court of last resort, expanding the judiciary's role in shaping Canadian law. In 1982, the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms transformed the Court's function, granting it enhanced powers of oversight over Parliament and entrenching civil rights, including Aboriginal and equality rights.

In July 2025, the Supreme Court announced that it will translated its pre-1970 decisions into both English and French, covering 150 years of judgments rendered by the Supreme Court of Canada.

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