Susan Barker of the University of Toronto Bora Laskin Law Library has published Decision Making at the Supreme Court of Canada, 34 Canadian Law Library Review 172 (2009). Here is the abstract:
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court in the country and, as such, has a profound influence on the lives of all Canadians. While Supreme Court rulings receive regular public scrutiny, much less attention has been paid to the way in which the Justices make their decisions. This paper takes a look at the processes behind this decision making rather than at its results. It does so, first, at an institutional level, by describing the formal procedures that govern the process of decision-making and the institutional resources that support this process. And second, at an individual level by examining this decision making within the context of a number of theoretical decision-making models. These models look at the role that the justices’ individual characteristics and attitudes, and the institutional environment, play on influencing their decision making.
Thanks to Ms. Barker for providing the abstract.
