CBA Statement on Supreme Court of Canada appointments process

  • May 16, 2019

OTTAWA – The Canadian Bar Association welcomes the federal government’s announcement of the members of the Advisory Board for Quebec that will be charged with selecting candidates to fill the seat on the Supreme Court of Canada bench left vacant by the resignation of Justice ClĂ©ment Gascon.

As Justice Gascon filled one of three Supreme Court seats reserved for jurists from Quebec, the shortlist will be made up of candidates from that province. The composition of the Advisory Board for Quebec reflects Quebec’s unique civil law tradition and the importance of Quebec’s historic representation on the Court. All members of the Advisory Board must be fluently bilingual. One seat is reserved for a lawyer who is a member of CBA-QuĂ©bec.

The CBA and CBA-QuĂ©bec are pleased that CBA-QuĂ©bec’s seat on the Advisory Board will be filled by Steeves Bujold, Partner at McCarthy TĂ©trault in MontrĂ©al and member of the Executive Committee of SOGIC (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community) of CBA-Quebec. Me Bujold was nominated jointly by the CBA and CBA-Quebec.

“Sitting on the Supreme Court of Canada is an incredibly demanding job that requires not only an in-depth knowledge of the law, but also an ability to render the law meaningful and accessible to Canadians.” said Audrey Boctor, President of CBA-Quebec. “Quebec has no shortage of jurists whom we would be proud to see take their place on Canada’s high court and the Advisory Board for Quebec has our full support”.

The window for applications for the Supreme Court seat closes May 17, 2019 at midnight.

“The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to upholding judicial independence and the rule of law in Canada,” said CBA President Ray Adlington. “We take our role in the selection of candidates to fill seats on the Supreme Court bench very seriously and are honoured to be a part of the process.”

About the CBA

The CBA is dedicated to support for the rule of law, and improvement and the administration of justice. Some 36,000 lawyers, notaries in Quebec, law teachers and law students from across Canada are members.