Law360 Canada (June 22, 2026, 11:43 AM EDT) -- Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal, widely reputed in recent years to be a leading candidate for appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada, has been nominated to fill the western vacancy that opened up with the May 30 retirement of Supreme Court of Canada Justice Sheilah Martin, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on June 22.
According to the announcement, Chief Justice Joyal’s name was chosen by the prime minister from an unspecified number of names shortlisted by the latest Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments, originated by the predecessor Trudeau Liberal government as an independent and non-partisan body convened to provide a shortlist of three to five merit-based candidates for appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada.
“Throughout his career, Chief Justice Joyal has demonstrated the integrity, experience and sound judgment that service on our highest court demands,” Prime Minister Carney said in a media release. “I am confident that he will serve Canadians with distinction.”
Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal
The government noted that the fluently bilingual judge has been on the bench for more than 25 years, where he has led the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba since 2011. Before Chief Justice Joyal’s appointment to the bench, he practised criminal law, constitutional law and civil litigation in Manitoba.
“His work to improve access to justice, modernize court operations and advance reconciliation reflects a deep commitment to the fair administration of justice,” Justice Minister Sean Fraser said. “He is an outstanding nominee to serve on Canada’s highest court.”
The federal government said a joint question-and-answer session (the date was not specified) with Chief Justice Joyal will be held before members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and members of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. The session is to be moderated by University of Ottawa law professor Anne Levesque.
Prime Minister Mark Carney
The nomination by the prime minister just three weeks after Justice Martin’s retirement is very speedy compared to the previous nominations of the Liberal government under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, which took considerably longer.
The nomination was welcomed by the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), which noted that the chief justice’s pre-judicial career includes work as a Crown attorney as well as in private practice, with particular expertise in criminal and constitutional law.
“His bilingualism, deep Manitoba roots and longstanding engagement with the province’s legal, francophone, Indigenous and access-to-justice communities will bring an important perspective to the court,” CBA president Bianca Kratt said in a statement.
“We are confident that Justice Joyal will serve on it with independence, rigour and integrity.”
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