Supreme Court won’t hear thumbs-up emoji case involving Saskatchewan farmer

Jul 24, 2025 | 8:20 AM

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada has given a thumbs-down to hearing a legal case involving an emoji.

The country’s highest court dismissed an application by farmer Chris Achter to appeal a decision by the Court of Appeal of Saskatchewan.

The Appeal Court upheld a verdict that found a thumbs-up emoji met signature requirements and was a legally binding agreement between Achter and Kent Mickleborough, a grain buyer with South West Terminal.

In 2021, Mickleborough sent a text of a contract to Achter for a delivery of flax, and the farmer responded with a thumbs-up emoji.