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Judicial Review (JR-6)
8. JR STANDARDS OF REVIEW (SOR)
(a) Introduction
If you are unfamiliar with JR law, this next (essential) issue may come as a surprise. Judicial review (JR) is - quite counter-intuitively - not about whether the administrative decision-maker 'got it right' - or 'correct', they are about whether it's decision or action was 'reasonable'. 'Reasonableness' is a large (and growing) doctrine of law that examines whether legally-required procedures (which can vary with the nature of each case) were followed in the making of the decision or action. In other words, the central JR inquiry is not necessarily whether they got it 'right' - just whether they 'did' it right.
This is an aspect of 'deference' to the administrative decision-maker and - more recently - the result of a political self-compromise by the Supreme Court, which extends greater respect to administrative actors (mostly tribunals). Their thinking is that administrative tribunals and similar entities are creatures of the legislation (and thus, the argument goes, are more 'democratic') rather than the Superior courts, which are creatures of the constitution [Constitution Act, 1867, s.96] which is (the reasoning goes) less democratic.
If you are interested in this oddity of modern Canadian law, you can review some of it in JR - SOR - Tolerated Uncertainty below. And if you are seriously exploring conducting a JR you will have to learn how to 'think in' - and to 'speak' the language of 'reasonableness'.
(b) 'Reasonableness'
Overview
'Reasonableness' is the presumptive 'standard of review' (SOR) for JRs.
VAVILOV - JR - Vavilov is the Doctrinal Starting Point
JR Cases - SOR - Vavilov is Starting Point
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness - 'A Single Concept'
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' in a Nutshell
JR Cases - SOR - 'Patent Unreasonableness'
JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness - Nature of Error (Law, Fact and Mixed Fact and Law)
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Test Examples (+)
(c) 'Reasonableness Review'
The Nature of 'Reasonableness Review'
'Reasonableness Review' is the multi-factored process of implementing the JR standard of review (SOR).
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - The Nature of Reasonableness Review
JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness Review - The Nature of Reasonableness Review
General
JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness Review - General
Justification
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - GeneralJustification - Impact of the Decision
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Impact of the Decision
JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Impact of the Decision
Justification - Submissions of the Parties
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Submissions of the Parties
JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Submissions of the Parties
Justification - Evidence
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Evidence
JR Cases - SOR - Fact Issues
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - Fact-finding
Justification - Statutory Interpretation
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Statutory Interpretation
JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Statutory Interpretation
Justification - Other Statutory or Common Law
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Other Statutory or Common Law
JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Other Statutory and Common Law
Justification - Governing Statutory Scheme
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Governing Statutory Scheme
JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Governing Statutory Scheme Internal Coherence
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Internally Coherent
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - Failure of Rationality
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - 'Line-by-line Treasure Hunt'
Use of Pre-Vavilov Precedents
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Past Practices
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - Use of Pre-Vavilov Cases
JR Cases - Pre-Vavilov Cases
Use of Post-Vavilov Precedents
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - Examining Legal Precedents
(d) 'Reasonableness' Exceptions
General
'Reasonableness' exceptions are just that - issues where 'reasonableness' is not the applicable SOR. When an exception applies (as below) the SOR is that of 'correctness', more recently re-termed 'appellate SOR' - which is (unsurprisingly) the default SOR for appeals (correctness for legal issues, palpable and overriding errors for fact - and mixed errors of fact and law).
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Exceptions - General
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Rule-of-Law Exceptions to Reasonableness
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - General
Central Importance to the Legal System
VAVILOV - JR Cases - SOR - Rule of Law Exceptions - Central Importance to the Law
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - 'Central Importance to the Legal System' (+)
Constitutional Questions
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Rule of Law Exceptions - Constitutional Questions
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Constitutional Questions (+)
Tribunal Boundaries
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Rule of Law Exceptions - Tribunal Boundaries
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Tribunal Boundaries
New (and Failed) Exceptions
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - Future
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - Future
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Human Rights
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Evidentiary Privilege
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Concurrency
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Indigenous
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - Where Both JR and Appeal Advanced
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - Ultra Vires Delegated Legislation (+)
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Bias
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Jurisdiction
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Persistent Discord [FAILED]
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Immigration Appeals [FAILED]
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - 'First-Instance Decision-Maker' [NEW]
>>> JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - 'Court in same position to decide facts' [UNCERTAIN]
Exceptions to Exceptions
JR Cases - SOR - Exceptions to Exceptions - Fact Issues
(e) Reasons for Decision
'Reasonableness' (unsurprisingly) is largely about any 'reasons for decision' issued by tribunals (and courts later on review).
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Reasons - When Required
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' and 'Reasons for Decision'
JR Cases - SOR - No Reasons
JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness - Not Own Analysis
(f) Procedural Fairness
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Fairness
JR Cases - SOR - Fairness
JR Cases - Reasonableness versus Procedural Fairness
(g) 'Reasonableness' and Specific Areas of Law
Jurisdiction
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Non-Exception - Jurisdiction
JR Cases - SOR - Statutory Range of the Decision-Maker
International Law
JR Cases - SOR - International Law
Cabinet Confidentiality
JR Cases - SOR - Cabinet Confidentiality
Charter
JR Cases - SOR - Charter
Policy
JR Cases - SOR - Policy
(h) Other Issues
Remedies
VAVILOV - JR - Remedy - General
VAVILOV - JR - Remedies
JR Cases - SOR - Remedies
Privative Clauses
VAVILOV - JR - Privative Clauses
JR Cases - SOR - Privative Clauses
Expertise
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Expertise
JR Cases - SOR - Expertise (+)
Statutory Interpretation
JR Cases - SOR - Statutory-Interpretation
The Role of Errors in 'Reasonableness'
JR Cases - SOR - The Role of Errors in 'Reasonableness'
Reconsiderations (Administrative)
JR Cases - SOR - Reconsideration
Finality
JR Cases - SOR - Finality
(i) Vavilov Critique
Tolerated Uncertainty in Law
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Tolerated Uncertainty in Law
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Tolerating Uncertainty - Administrative Stare Decisis JR Bump-Up
JR Cases - SOR - Tolerated Uncertainty
Administrative Law as Pseudo-Law
VAVILOV - JR Cases - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Administrative Law as Pseudo-law
Stratas JA
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' and Stratas JA
Other
JR Cases - SOR - 'Reasonableness' and Other Critique
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