The Runnymede Society’s annual Law & Freedom conference is its most significant and prestigious event of the year—and this year’s iteration is set to be the largest on record, coinciding with our 10th anniversary as an institution.
Law & Freedom 2026 will see around 250 legal scholars, practitioners, and students gather at The Carlu and Hart House in Toronto on January 30–31, 2026 to thoughtfully discuss some of the most pressing constitutional issues and heterodox legal ideas in Canada today.
This will include a keynote address by Justice Susanne Côté of the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as several panels featuring constitutional experts from diverse academic subfields and professional backgrounds.
Keynote Speaker
Justice Susanne Côté of the Supreme Court of Canada
The Honourable Suzanne Côté has served on the Supreme Court of Canada since December 1, 2014.
Before her appointment, she was a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and previously at Stikeman Elliott, leading both firms’ Montréal litigation groups. Over more than 30 years in practice, she built a national reputation for handling complex civil and commercial cases, including class actions, shareholder disputes, product liability, and public law matters.
Originally from the Gaspé Peninsula, Justice Côté began her career practising law in her home region before moving to Montréal. She holds an LL.B. from Université Laval and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1981.
Recognized as one of Canada’s top litigators, she is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and received the Advocatus Emeritus distinction from the Barreau du Québec. She has taught advocacy and evidence at the École du Barreau du Québec, lectured at several universities, and supported trial advocacy competitions across the province.
Justice Côté has also been active in community life, serving on the boards of the Fondation Jean Duceppe and the Société d’histoire de la Gaspésie.
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