Manitoba Chief Justice Glenn Joyal Nominated to Canada’s Supreme Court
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Monday that Manitoba Supreme Court Chief Justice Glenn Joyal has been nominated to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court of Canada. Joyal will replace Justice Sheilah Martin, who resigned from the top court on May 30.
A Respected Judicial Career
Joyal has served as Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba since 2011, following a tenure on the Manitoba Court of Appeal. He is widely recognized for his work on issues including French-language services, judicial independence, and Indigenous access to justice.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser praised Joyal’s record, noting his efforts to improve access to justice, modernize court operations, and promote reconciliation. “His work reflects a deep commitment to the fair administration of justice,” Fraser said in a statement.
First Supreme Court Nomination Under Carney
This marks Carney’s first appointment to the country’s highest court since becoming prime minister last spring. Joyal was reportedly the leading candidate among two finalists considered for the position, alongside Anna Loparco of the King’s Court of Alberta.
The nomination follows a long-standing tradition of reserving two Supreme Court seats for candidates from Western Canada. Joyal’s name had previously been floated as a potential nominee, though he withdrew his application in 2019 due to his wife’s health issues after it was controversially leaked to media in 2017.
Recent Landmark Decision
Last month, Joyal released a significant ruling finding that both the federal and Manitoba governments had violated First Nations’ right to self-government regarding child welfare. Earlier this year, he also advocated for judges to actively defend judicial independence.
Joyal is expected to appear before a parliamentary committee for a question-and-answer session in the coming days, after which Carney will formally announce the appointment. The exact date for Joyal to assume his new role has not yet been specified.
