OTTAWA — Manitoba Superior Court Chief Justice Glenn Joyal has been appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Monday morning. Joyal fills the vacancy left by Justice Sheilah Martin, who retired from the apex court on May 30.
Carney's first Supreme Court appointment
This marks Carney's first appointment to the country's top court since he became prime minister last spring. In a statement, Carney praised Joyal's qualifications: “Throughout his career, Chief Justice Joyal has demonstrated the integrity, experience, and sound judgment that service on our highest court demands. I am confident that he will serve Canadians with distinction.”
Joyal was considered the frontrunner among two final candidates, with the other being Anna Loparco of the King’s Court of Alberta, according to a National Post report last week.
Background and judicial career
Joyal’s name has long been floated as a potential Supreme Court pick for one of the two seats traditionally reserved for a candidate from Western Canada. He had applied for a position on the top court in 2017, but his application was controversially leaked to media. In 2019, he confirmed to The Canadian Press that he had withdrawn his application due to his wife's health issues.
Joyal is known for being an outspoken chief justice on issues affecting his court, including French-language services, judicial independence, and Indigenous access to justice. Earlier this year, he argued that judges should not be afraid to speak up in defence of the judiciary.
Landmark decision on Indigenous rights
Last month, Joyal released a landmark decision finding that the federal and Manitoba governments had breached First Nations’ rights to self-governance on child welfare. The ruling has significant implications for Indigenous sovereignty and child welfare policy.
More details are expected to follow as the appointment process continues.
