The Canadian Bar Association is pleased with the announcement that the Hon. Mahmud Jamal has been nominated to the Supreme Court of Canada, to fill the Ontario seat currently held by Justice Rosalie Abella, who retires on July 1.
Justice Jamal, appointed in 2019 to the Ontario Court of Appeal, has been an active member of the Association. The CBA and the profession have both benefited from his expertise and analysis of issues such as solicitor-client privilege. We thank him for his contributions, which were often made on a pro-bono basis.
The CBA is always ready to work with whoever is appointed to the Supreme Court, but we are particularly pleased with this nomination. Mahmud Jamal is an intelligent, thoughtful and charming person who will be a credit to the court.
The CBA thanks its nominee to the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments, Signa Daum Shanks, for her work.
The Canadian Bar Association is happy that with the nomination of Justice Jamal, who was born in Kenya, the Supreme Court of Canada will be more reflective of the diverse population it serves. But we believe there is more work to be done, including the appointment of an Indigenous person to the highest court in the land.
Brad Regehr
CBA President