This publication has been written and produced by the Office of the Chief Judge of the Court of Québec, 300 boulevard Jean-Lesage, Suite 5.15, Québec City, Québec G1K 8K6. Tel.: 418 649-3424 The artwork on the cover page was done by Judge Jean La Rue, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Court of Québec in 1998. This artwork represents the robe worn by the judges and evokes the fact that the Court of Québec was formed upon the unification of provincial courts: the Provincial Court, the Court of Sessions of the Peace and the Youth Court. Copies of this publication may be ordered by contacting the Office of the Chief Judge of the Court of Québec, at one of the following numbers: – Tel.: 418 649-3591 – Fax: 418 643-8432 Please note that throughout this publication, the masculine gender has been used without any discrimination, but rather solely for the purpose of easier reading. © Court of Québec, 2011 Legal deposit – Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, 2011 National Library of Canada ISBN-13: 978-2-550-61527-9 ISBN-13: 978-2-550-61528-6 (pdf) Court of Québec Publliic Report 2010,, extract Table of Contents Message from the Chief Judge .....................................................................................................................3 Operation of the Court..............................................................................................................................t .....4 Organization Chart ....................................................................................................................................4 Organization..............................................................................................................................................4 Judges in Management Positions...............................................................................................4 Court Committees ....................................................................................................................8 Jurisdiction of the Court ............................................................................................................................8 Presiding Justices of the Peace..............................................................................................................11 Appointments and Departures ................................................................................................................12 Per Diem Judges.....................................................................................................................................13 Territory Covered ........................................................................................................................................14 Regions .......................................................................................................................................................16 Abitibi–Témiscamingue–Nord-du-Québec ..............................................................................................16 Bas-Saint-Laurent–Côte-Nord–Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine ............................................................16 Estrie .......................................................................................................................................................17 Laval–Laurentides–Lanaudière–Labelle.................................................................................................17 Mauricie–Bois-Francs–Centre-du-Québec .............................................................................................18 Montérégie ..............................................................................................................................................18 The Judges..............................................................................................................................................19 Montréal ..................................................................................................................................................19 Outaouais................................................................................................................................................20 Québec–Chaudière-Appalaches.............................................................................................................20 Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean......................................................................................................................21 Professions Tribunal ...................................................................................................................................22 Human Rights Tribunal ...............................................................................................................................22 Administration of the Court..........................................................................................................................t 23 A Dynamic Court .........................................................................................................................................25 Court of Québec Public Report 2010, Extract - 2 - Message from the Chiief Judge I am extremely proud to present the fifth public report of the Court of Québec. All members of the Court’s management team offered their input to provide you with an insight into our institution through the daily activities of judges as well as the activities that connect the Court to the society it serves. The political, economic and social environment has had an undeniable impact this year on the operations of the Court. Accessibility to justice is an inescapable challenge for all courts of law across the country, and the judges of the Court of Québec have spared no effort to maintain a level of quality service despite daily concerns over underfunding in the area of justice and considerable delays in the appointment of judges. Nonetheless, in addition to their duties and functions as impartial and ethical decision-makers, judges have succeeded in maintaining the vitality of the Court of Québec and strengthen its outreach by participating in the countless activities that you will see described in the pages that follow. Upon reading this report, you will undoubtedly see that the Court of Québec's judges and the Presiding Justices of the Peace are dedicated to improving the quality of justice in Québec and work wholeheartedly towards solutions. On a more personal note, I am completing my first year of a seven-year term of office during which I have had the privilege, alongside my entire team, of serving all Québec citizens to the best of my abilities. This report is a public testimony of the work we have accomplished and of our determination to promote modern and accessible justice. Court of Québec Public Report 2010, Extract - 3 - Operatiion of the Court Organization Chart Organization Judges in Management Positions Currently comprised of a maximum of 270 judges and 33 Presiding Justices of the Peace, the Court of Québec requires a management structure that supports the ability to discharge its duties and functions effectively. To that end, the Courts of Justice Act provides for the positions of Chief Judge, Senior Associate Chief Judge, Associate Chief Judges, Coordinating Judges and Associate Coordinating Judges, all referred to as “judges in management positions.” They are all appointed from among Court of Québec judges. The Chief Judge, Senior Associate Chief Judge and Associate Chief Judges are ex officio members of Québec’s judicial council (Conseil de la magistrature). Court of Québec Public Report 2010, Extract - 4 - Chief Judge Judge Élizabeth Corte was appointed Chief Judge of the Court of Québec on October 21, 2009, for a seven-year term of office. In that capacity, she acts as the Court’s representative and its spokesperson with the Government and other institutions. As set forth in the Courts of Justice Act, the Chief Judge is also tasked with ensuring that the general policy of the Court is applied in judicial matters; coordinating, apportioning and supervising the work of the judges; seeing to their complementary training; and ensuring compliance with the Judicial Code of Ethics. In cooperation with the Coordinating Judges and Associate Coordinating Judges, she sees to the allotment of cases and the scheduling. In addition, she chairs or sits on numerous committees and task forces, whose purpose is generally to promote better justice and easier accessibility to justice. The Chief Judge is supported by the team of judges in management positions to perform her duties and functions. She assigns them specific tasks, which she then monitors. She plans and presides over the working sessions of the Chief Judges as well as the meetings attended by the Chief Judges, Coordinating Judges and Associate Coordinating Judges. In cooperation with all of the judges, whom she consults on a regular basis, she defines the institution’s mission, values and objectives. Senior Associate Chief Judge Judge Mario Tremblay was appointed Senior Associate Chief Judge for a seven-year term of office effective September 1, 2009. As set forth in the Courts of Justice Act, the Senior Associate Chief Judge assists and advises the Chief Judge in the performance of his duties and functions. The Senior Associate Chief Judge ensures coordination among the Associate Chief Judges, Coordinating Judges and Associate Coordinating Judges. He is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Court’s policies and management of timelines. He further