Opening of the Courts Ceremony marks the beginning of a new judicial year
September 11, 2026 – Defence Stories
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Caption
Captain(N) Catherine Julie Deschênes, Chief Military Judge and the Honourable Mary J.L. Gleason, Chief Justice of the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada preside over the Opening of the Court Ceremony held in Ottawa, Ontario on September 3, 2026.
On September 3, the Office of the Chief Military Judge hosted members of the civilian and military justice communities at the Opening of the Courts Ceremony in the National Capital Region, marking the start of a new Court Martial year.
The annual ceremony provides an opportunity to reflect on the role of Canada's military justice system in upholding the rule of law within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Bringing together civilian and military judges, legal officers, senior CAF leaders, and distinguished guests, the event highlighted a shared commitment to the fair and effective administration of military justice.
During the ceremony, Chief Military Judge Captain(N) Catherine Julie Deschênes emphasized the need to maintain a strong, independent, and credible military justice system. "The Opening of the Courts Ceremony is a meaningful reminder of our shared responsibility to uphold the rule of law, protect judicial independence, and maintain a military justice system that serves the Canadian Armed Forces both at home and overseas. This ceremony highlights the value of cooperation and continuous improvement in strengthening the military justice system."
This year's ceremony highlighted the importance of maintaining public confidence in a military justice system that is independent, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the CAF. As court martial proceedings resume for the new judicial year, the Office of the Chief Military Judge remains committed to administering military justice with fairness, professionalism, and integrity in support of operational effectiveness in Canada and abroad.