Osgoode Hall Law School’s Annual Constitutional Cases Conference – a national forum on constitutional law –once again brought together judges, practitioners, constitutional scholars and students from across Canada to examine the Supreme Court of Canada’s most significant constitutional decisions from the past year.
Chaired by Professors Benjamin Berger, Sonia Lawrence and Emily Kidd White, the conference explored how recent decisions are being applied in practice and how they are shaping constitutional law. Discussions covered a range of areas, including criminal law, Indigenous governance, administrative law and Charter rights.
The Laskin Lecture keynote address was delivered by world-renowned legal and political philosopher Jeremy Waldron, University Professor at New York University School of Law. Waldron in a lecture entitled, “Time now to write it in the books of law” examined how constitutional ideas are developed and contested beyond the courts, particularly within legislatures. His powerful remarks inspired and enriched the discussions of the day.
Across the sessions, speakers identified shared themes in the Court’s recent work, including how rights are balanced with institutional decision-making and how constitutional principles continue to evolve across different areas of law.
By bringing together academic perspectives and legal practice, the conference provided a space for dialogue and exchange within the constitutional law community. Students also engaged directly with scholars and practitioners in the field.
Looking ahead, Osgoode’s Annual Constitutional Cases Conference will mark its 30th anniversary in 2027, continuing its role as the premier national gathering for constitutional dialogue and reflection on the Supreme Court’s evolving jurisprudence.
The 2026 conference and associated programming were supported by the York Centre for Public Policy and Law, with conference papers sponsored by LexisNexis Canada.