A review by katreads2022
Mighty Judgment: How the Supreme Court of Canada Runs Your Life by Philip Slayton

informative medium-paced

4.0

Consider this more of a sweeping introduction into the function and structure of the Supreme Court of Canada than a thorough critique of the supposedly intrusive judicial body. Slayton delivers a compelling and well-researched exploration of the Supreme Court that is especially relevant in 2022, months after Sullivan  and Chan and the monumental overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States. Unfortunately, as prescient of the subject matter it is, Slayton writes extensively about the Supreme Court as it were precisely in 2011. Character analyses of the justices at that time make up a substantial, albeit not uninteresting, part of the book. Other comparisons simply didn’t age well: a suggestion to follow the American-style process of nominating judges has infamously led to some terrible appointments in recent years. It feels like the thesis of this novel is somewhat hastily arranged at its end with a few cogent recommendations for Court reform, namely the introduction of term limits. The middle portions are hampered by unnecessary and snide remarks on the individual justices are rulings which, without the pages necessary for full argumentation, feel like an attempt to inject opinion into this largely objective piece. While not completely justifying the need and scope of Supreme Court reform, Mighty Judgement is an accessible and informative read for those interested in learning more about Canada’s most superior Court.