- What are the roles and responsibilities of the courts?
- Canadian courts are the judicial branch of the government. One of their main tasks is interpreting the laws made and administered by the legislative and executive branches. They also settle disputes between individuals.
How does the judicial system protect the rights of individuals and society?
- Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This long-held principle of Canadian law is now part of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- Courts operate in public. Their proceedings are open for the public to see that they work fairly and follow the rules of law.
- An individual cannot be charged with breaking the law not in place when the offense occurred.
- No one can be forced to testify as a witness at his or her trial.
- All accused people have a right to a lawyer if they wish. If they cannot afford one, the government will pay for one.