Justice Scott Morishita

A legal career guided by responsibility

Now a Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Scott Morishita traces many of his core values back to his studies at the University of Victoria. Mentorship, service and a belief in responsibility as a professional obligation have shaped a career defined not only by legal excellence, but by a commitment to building a more inclusive and humane profession.

“Community is really important to me: being part of one, identifying with it and helping to build it,” Justice Morishita reflects.

That approach, he says, is rooted in his time at the UVic. While he describes his law school years fondly, they were also marked by challenges.

“I wasn’t that great of a student for the first two years,” he says. “And when I left UVic, I didn’t have a job lined up. I had a lot of uncertainty.”

At the time, Justice Morishita did not yet recognize how deeply those experiences—and UVic’s values—would shape his path. Only years later, after establishing himself professionally, did he begin to see the imprint clearly.

“I loved the school. I loved my professors. I made lifelong friends, but I don’t think I fully appreciated what I was taking with me,” he says. “When I look back now at my career and my values, those principles were imparted on me at UVic—especially the idea that being a professional comes with responsibility.”

Justice Morishita remains closely connected to UVic, continuing to mentor law students and support initiatives that expand access to justice through the Faculty of Law.

“Being part of a professional community comes with privilege, and with that comes a responsibility to give back.”

That sense of responsibility guided Justice Morishita after graduating in 2005. He built a successful career as a trial lawyer, primarily representing individuals in personal injury cases, while also working with government and institutional clients.

Service beyond the courtroom

Alongside his legal practice, he has served on boards including the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC and RainCity Housing and Support Society, while also mentoring countless students and early-career lawyers through the Canadian Bar Association, the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers BC and UVic Law’s Pro Bono Students Canada program.

Justice Morishita’s commitment to mentorship and inclusion is deeply personal. As a Japanese Canadian and a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, he understands how representation—and the absence of it—shapes professional experience.

“For a long time, I was driven by fear,” he says. “Fear of failure. Fear of not being good enough.”

Early in his career, those pressures contributed to significant mental health struggles, culminating in a medical leave shortly after he completed articling. From 2007 until his appointment to the bench, Justice Morishita volunteered with the Lawyers Assistance Program of British Columbia, where he assisted with events and supported the program’s outreach efforts.

“I didn’t talk to anyone about it until I had no choice,” he says. “Getting help changed everything.”

Why listening matters

In 2023, Morishita was elected President of the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch, making history as the organization’s first Japanese Canadian in its 127-year history. While colleagues credit him with helping shift the culture of the profession, he never framed the role as a personal milestone.

“I didn’t set out to be instrumental in culture change,” he says. “I just wanted to be part of the discussion—especially around mental health.”

During his presidency, Justice Morishita made wellness and lawyer independence central priorities, speaking openly about his own experiences at a time when few leaders had done so.

“Learning with age and saying you don’t know or showing vulnerability isn’t a sign of weakness,” he says. “Often, it’s a sign of strength.”

His leadership and judgment have also been recognized through a range of appointments including the Judicial Council of the Provincial Court of British Columbia and the transitional board of Legal Professions BC. Notably, Justice Morishita was the only appointee to that board who had not previously served as a Law Society bencher.