Attached is an announcement from the Secretary General of the International Association of Judges about a bill that is making its way through the Canadian Senate. The Bill proposes to officially declare 11 January Judicial Independence Day.
January 11 is significant. It is the anniversary of the “1,000 Robes March.” Senator White, the Bill’s sponsor, said at the Bill’s second reading in the Senate:
The 1000 Robes March happened on January 11, 2020, in Poland, when thousands of judges from Poland and across Europe marched throughout the streets of Warsaw in their robes, peacefully showing the government that they would not stand for political interference in the judiciary. They were protesting a series of attacks that had been made against the independence of Polish courts and judges. Specifically, this included the establishment of disciplinary proceedings against judges who opposed the political party that was in power. It also suggested a “muzzle law,” which prohibited judges from publicly questioning appointments made by the government.
This is a powerful gesture of support for judicial independence and the rule of law from the legislative branch in Canada. Has that most august of Canadian institutions, the Senate, thrown down a wero to the New Zealand Parliament?
—
Please find below the announcement and link for Justice Clayton Conlan’s appearance at the Canada Senate Committee hearing on Monday 8: Bill S-219: Judicial Independence Day Act.
Bill S-219, the Judicial Independence Day Act , originally sponsored by Senator Pierre Moreau and now by Senator Judy White, proposes to officially designate January 11 of each year as "Judicial Independence Day" in Canada.
This would be an important and valuable initiative to educate Canadians on the meaning of judicial independence and its importance to democracy in Canada. The bill passed its second reading in the Senate and is currently under consideration by the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights. Our immediate Past President and current President of the IAJ-ANAO Regional Group , Justice Clayton Conlan, was invited to appear before the committee on June 8, 2026.
The Canadian Superior Court Judges Association is pleased to support this bill and invites you to listen to Justice Conlan’s contribution online here. Justice Conlan starts at approximately 16:07.