A Legal Forum for Intellectual Diversity

Earlier this year, Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada delivered a two-part Runnymede lecture series on the Charter and liberal democracy across two cities in 24 hours. Part I, “How Misunderstanding the Charter Can Weaken Liberal Democracy” (March 3, 2026), was delivered at the University of Calgary. Justice Rowe considers what happens when the Charter is understood apart from the broader system of democratic government in which it operates, and the problems that can follow. The next

John Borrows (University of Toronto) and Erik De Lorenzi join Runnymede Radio to discuss a proposed framework for Indigenous Community Courts and the expansion of Indigenous self-government over the administration of justice. Drawing on examples including U.S. Tribal Courts, the Akwesasne Court, and proposed arrangements involving Yukon First Nations, the conversation examines how Indigenous Community Courts could operate in practice: their jurisdiction, judicial appointments, relationship with existing Canadian courts, and potential role in improving access to justice. Borrows and De

Mark Harding (University of Guelph) joins Runnymede Radio to discuss his book, Judicializing Everything? The Clash of Constitutionalisms in Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, which Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada referenced at length during his keynote address at Law & Freedom 2024. Comparing Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, Harding examines political and legal constitutionalism, strong- and weak-form judicial review, and competing approaches to the relationship between courts and legislatures. The discussion explores

Collin May (University of Calgary) joins Runnymede Radio to discuss his new book, From Cancel Culture to Incarceration Culture: Prosecutorial Democracy and the Future of Cancellation. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, sociology, law, and his own experience being “cancelled” following his brief tenure as Chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission in 2022, May examines the distinction between cancel culture and accountability, the institutional dynamics of cancellation, and the importance of “free speech culture.” The discussion explores the psychology of cancellation,

Andrea Lawlor (McMaster University) and Dave Snow (University of Guelph) join Runnymede Radio to discuss judicial councils, judicial discipline, and the institutions responsible for upholding accountability within Canada’s judiciary. Drawing on their recent scholarship, Lawlor and Snow examine the role of the Canadian Judicial Council and provincial judicial councils, explaining how judicial misconduct is investigated, how judicial ethics are enforced, and why these processes matter for judicial independence. The discussion also explores the reforms introduced through Bill C-9, the administrative

Yonatan Green (Georgetown University) joins the Honourable Justice David Brown (Ontario Court of Appeal, retired) in this recording of an event hosted by Runnymede’s Toronto Lawyer Chapter to discuss his book, Rogue Justice: The Rise of Judicial Supremacy in Israel. Green’s book examines claims that the Israeli Supreme Court has enlarged its role in ways that have reshaped the balance between branches of government, arguably contributing to a constitutional crisis. The conversation explores the evolution of Israel’s constitutional system, including