Chief Justice Richard Wagner highlights events celebrating court’s 150th anniversary
The Supreme Court of Canada recently released its 2025 Year in Review, a special edition commemorating its 150th anniversary and seeking to contextualize its recent work amid its continuing efforts to serve Canadians and promote public confidence in the administration of justice.
In a news release, the court explained that the new publication focuses on its work in 2025 that influenced the country’s legal landscape. The edition also highlights the court’s events and initiatives that marked its milestone 150th anniversary.
“The Supreme Court’s 150th anniversary offered an opportunity to reflect on the institution’s history since its creation in 1875, and on the essential role it continues to play in our democracy,” said Richard Wagner, Canada’s chief justice. “The commemorative activities organized for this occasion also allowed Canadians to learn more about the work of the Court.”
Apart from putting a spotlight on the court’s notable decisions last year, the publication also includes a section with statistics on leave applications filed, appeals heard, and judgments rendered for the 2025 calendar year.
“Each case that comes before the Court carries real consequences for individuals and for society as a whole,” Wagner said in the court’s news release. “Our responsibility is to decide these cases independently and impartially, guided by the Constitution and the rule of law.”
The court said it expects to hear even more cases in 2026.
Leave applications
In 2025, the court received 517 applications for leave (or permission to appeal) and 18 notices of appeal as of right. In its 2025 Year in Review, the court attributed 37 percent (191 cases) to filings by self-represented litigants, slightly higher than the 31 percent in 2024.
The court broke down the leave applications by category:
- public law: 57 percent
- criminal law: 22 percent
- private law: 21 percent
Appeals heard
Last year, the court heard 51 appeals:
- 31 between January and May
- 20 between October and December
In its 2025 Year in Review, the court classified the appeals heard by category:
- criminal law: 61 percent
- public law: 25 percent
- private law: 14 percent
Appeal judgments
In 2025, the court rendered 46 judgments, 43 percent of which were unanimous. The court noted an average 5.1-month period between an appeal’s hearing and its judgment.
The court broke down the appeal judgments by category:
- criminal law: 69 percent
- public law: 22 percent
- private law: nine percent
