OTTAWA - The CBA believes that Canadians deserve to have confidence that candidates considered for appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada have the highest qualifications and are representative of society as a whole, taking into account language, gender and knowledge of Indigenous legal systems.
The new process includes an open application process, publicized selection criteria, and an advisory committee with a broad range of stakeholders, including nominees of the Justice Minister, the judicial and legal communities, and the public.
The CBA is honoured to have Susan Ursel as its designate on the advisory board. She will bring perspectives on how candidates will promote the fair administration of justice and uphold the rule of law, as well as knowledge of the candidates’ character, suitability, community involvement and perception in the legal community.
QUOTES
“The CBA welcomes the federal government’s announcement of a new process to appoint a replacement for retiring Supreme Court of Canada Justice Thomas Cromwell."
– Canadian Bar Association
“The Canadian Bar Association has long history of supporting a Supreme Court of Canada appointments process that is open, transparent, and free from any perception of political bias. As President of the CBA, I encourage lawyers and judges – women and men, Indigenous Canadians and individuals from minority groups – to consider putting their names forward with a view to build a pool of candidates that reflects the rich diversity of Canada."
– Janet Fuhrer, President of the Canadian Bar Association
BACKGROUND
In 1985, the CBA published a landmark study on the appointment of judges in Canada, stating “The public is entitled to a system of selection that will open the doors to more candidates, provide careful and measured consideration of qualifications, and not be subject to partisan influences.”
ABOUT THE CBA
The CBA is dedicated to support for the rule of law, and improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 36,000 lawyers, notaries in Quebec, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.