A Canadian Supreme Court Justice to be chosen by the Prime Minister from

By Gazette Staff

March 31^st, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

Why a story about the selection of Supreme Court judges?  Look south at the mess that has taken place with, not only the way they select their Justices, but how the American Supreme has made decisions in the past several years.

Prime Minister, Mark Carney, launched the process to select the next judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, who will fill the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Justice Sheilah L. Martin.

Members of the Supreme Court in their new judicial robes

A non-partisan Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments will be given the task of identifying suitable candidates who are jurists of the highest calibre, functionally bilingual, and representative of the diversity of our country. After the application period closes, the Advisory Board will review applications and submit a shortlist of highly qualified candidates to the Prime Minister for consideration.

Supreme Court Justices in the robes they used to wear.

The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada said:  “The Supreme Court of Canada is a pillar of our democracy. As Canada’s highest judicial body, the court – and the judges who serve on it – carry profound responsibilities and the values of integrity, independence, and the rule of law. This process will ensure the high standards that responsibility demands.”

Candidates may demonstrate that they satisfy the geographical requirement by reference to their bar membership, judicial appointment, or other relationship with Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) and Northern Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut).

The Supreme Court of Canada consists of nine judges, including a chief justice. They are all appointed by the Governor in Council and must have been either a judge of a superior court or a member of at least 10 years’ standing of the bar of a province or territory.

The Chair and members of the Advisory Board will be announced in the coming weeks.

Although the Supreme Court didn’t exist at Confederation, Canada’s founding constitutional document, the British North America Act — later renamed the Constitution Act, 1867 — included a provision for its establishment.