The chief justice of Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench has been nominated to Canada’s highest court.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Chief Justice Glenn Joyal’s nomination to the Supreme Court of Canada on Monday morning in a news release that said Joyal has throughout his career “demonstrated the integrity, experience, and sound judgment that service on our highest court demands.”
Joyal’s career on the bench spans more than 25 years, including his most recent role as chief justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba since 2011.
Before becoming a judge, Joyal practised criminal and constitutional law and civil litigation in Manitoba.
He has worked to improve access to justice, modernize court operations and advance reconciliation throughout his career, the news release said.
Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser said in the news release that Joyal’s work on those fronts “reflects a deep commitment to the fair administration of justice.”
His nomination comes after Justice Sheilah L. Martin’s retirement was announced in January. Her retirement was effective May 30.
Joyal is a recipient of both the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. He was also recognized in 2025 as a Jurist of Robson Hall by the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, for his “extraordinary service and commitment to the legal community,” the news release said.
The Supreme Court of Canada has nine judges, including a chief justice. They are all appointed by the governor in council, and must have been either a superior court judge or a member of the bar in a province or territory for at least 10 years, the news release said.
The independent advisory board that helps appoint judges to the country’s highest court is an independent, non-partisan body convened to provide merit-based recommendations to the prime minister.
That board took applications for the role and identified “jurists of the highest calibre” who were functionally bilingual and met eligibility requirements for a Western Canada or Northern Canada seat, according to the convention of regional representation in the court, then submitted a short list to the prime minister.
As part of his nomination process, Joyal will now participate in a question-and-answer session before members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and a member of the Green Party of Canada, the federal government said on its website.
