Court Access National Initiative

Canada’s courts are open in principle. Too often, they are not open in practice.

In response, the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) is launching a new initiative to tackle the myriad barriers that limit journalists’ access to public court proceedings and records.

“Journalists covering the courts in Canada must navigate inconsistent and sometimes opaque access to what should be public information,” said CAJ president Brent Jolly.

“These are not just newsroom frustrations. They go to the heart of open courts, the public’s right to know, and the principle that justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done.”

Journalists can often face delays or refusals when requesting documents, unclear or shifting rules around access to filings and exhibits, and practices that vary widely not just between provinces and territories, but between courts in the same jurisdiction.

The Court Access National Initiative (CANI) will be a virtual forum that brings together journalists who cover courts across Canada—to discuss challenges, identify common barriers, and share approaches that have proven effective, such as media–court liaison committees in some regions.

If you’re a journalist covering courts and would like to get involved in this initiative, or learn more about the project, please contact us at: cani@caj.ca.

CAJ membership is not required.