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NEWSLETTER – WINTER 2025

This past quarter, the Action Committee on Modernizing Court Operations published guidance on trauma-informed approaches to Gladue processes, which was developed by its Indigenous Advisory Group. It also published two plain language templates on topics it has previously provided guidance on: the role of Indigenous Courtworkers, and the use of artificial intelligence by court users. These model texts can be adapted by courts and other justice system actors for use in public education materials.

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RECENT PUBLICATIONS

• Trauma-Informed Approaches to Gladue Processes: Taking a trauma-informed approach when sentencing Indigenous individuals is an important way judges can minimize additional harm to those who appear before them. This publication provides suggestions for concrete ways that sentencing judges can respect an Indigenous offender’s right to have their Gladue factors considered while minimizing the trauma this process can cause the individual, their family and community, and any victim or witness involved in the process.

• The Role of Indigenous Courtworkers in Criminal Proceedings – Plain Language Template: Using plain language, this publication explores the role of Indigenous Courtworkers (ICWs), who act as bridges between Indigenous accused persons and the Canadian justice system by providing information and assistance to their clients and connecting them to relevant legal and social resources. It has been developed as a template for adaptation and use by courts and other organizations that may wish to provide information about ICWs to Indigenous people who are involved with the criminal courts.

• Use of Artificial Intelligence by Court Users – Plain Language Template: Using plain language, this document examines the benefits and challenges of AI to assist court users in participating in court proceedings. It provides an overview of key concepts and AI tools that court users may be familiar with and addresses considerations relevant to responsible use of AI by court users. It has been developed as a template for adaptation and use by courts and other organizations that may wish to provide information about AI to people who are involved in the court.

WHO WE ARE

The Action Committee on Modernizing Court Operations is a national leadership body that supports Canada’s courts in their modernization efforts. The Committee provides non-prescriptive, practical guidance for addressing challenges, and highlights opportunities and innovative practices to modernize court operations and improve access to justice for court users at all levels of Canadian courts, in all types of court matters. It also identifies areas of further study that may interest policymakers, academics, and training providers in the field of court operations.

The Action Committee is co-chaired by the Chief Justice of Canada, the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Arif Virani. Its members include senior representatives of the judiciary and ministries responsible for Justice from various Canadian jurisdictions. The Committee is supported by an Indigenous Advisory Group to enrich the Action Committee’s work by ensuring that Indigenous perspectives are accurately reflected, and a Technical Working Group to ensure that national perspectives are reflected.

The Action Committee welcomes feedback, and relies upon collaborative information sharing, to inform its work on relevant topics. Contact us at AC-secretariat-CA@fja-cmf.gc.ca.