9 May 2025
Hon. Premier Doug Ford
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
via email: premier@ontario.ca
Dear Premier Ford;
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada is deeply concerned by recent public comments you made in response to a court decision with which you disagreed.[1] These remarks risk undermining the independence of the judiciary—a cornerstone of a democratic society governed by the rule of law.
While it is entirely appropriate to disagree with a court decision and pursue an appeal through the proper legal channels, as Premier of Ontario, you are sworn to uphold the rule of law—not to diminish it through public criticism that may weaken trust in our legal institutions.
Judicial independence is a fundamental pillar of the rule of law. The existence of an independent judiciary is essential to ensuring justice and safeguarding constitutional values, including democracy, equality, and fundamental justice. Judges are impartial arbiters, entrusted with interpreting and applying the law fairly and without external influence. Judicial independence has two key aspects: individual and institutional. Your comments denigrate both of these aspects of judicial independence.
Individual independence means that judges, regardless of who appoints them, must be free to decide cases without pressure from politicians, interest groups, or other external forces. Their impartiality is the bedrock of public confidence in the fairness of legal proceedings.
Institutional independence ensures that the judiciary operates as a separate and co-equal branch of government, free from interference by the executive or legislative branches. Neither can direct the actions of the courts, nor penalize judges for decisions that may be unpopular or politically inconvenient. When government officials publicly question or disparage judicial decisions, it can erode public trust in the entire justice system.
If judges could be dismissed, threatened, or influenced for their rulings, the very concept of justice would be compromised. Judicial independence exists precisely to shield judges from such pressures and preserve the integrity of our legal system.
To be clear, judicial independence does not mean judges are above accountability. Mechanisms exist to address misconduct or incompetence. However, disagreement with a ruling—no matter how strongly felt—is not a valid ground for undermining a judge’s role or credibility.
We urge you to uphold your responsibility as Premier by respecting the independence of the judiciary and promoting confidence in the rule of law.
Yours sincerely,
Joey Doyle
Co-Chair
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
Harini Sivalingam
Director
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
CC: Hon. Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario: attorneygeneral@ontario.ca
Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition: MStiles-QP@ndp.on.ca
Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party: bonnie@ontarioliberal.ca
Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario: leader@gpo.ca
[1] Laura Stone & Jeff Gray, “Ontario Premier Doug Ford Suggests U.S.-Style Elected Judges, Calls Judicial Independence a ‘Joke’,” The Globe and Mail (30 April 2025) online: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-doug-ford-ontario-judges-comments/
