18 May 2012
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on Mme. Justice Marie Deschamps announcing her upcoming retirement:
“I would like to thank Justice Marie Deschamps for her years of service to Canada in promoting and preserving justice.
“Her dedication and contributions to the Supreme Court of Canada over the last decade have made a lasting impression on the justice administration in Canada. Her excellent insight, wisdom, intellect and compassion will be sorely missed.
“The departure of Justice Marie Deschamps will leave a significant void in Canada’s highest court, and finding her replacement will be a priority for our Government in the upcoming months.
The process will be as follows:
- To identify a pool of qualified candidates for appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General will consult with the Quebec Attorney General, as well as leading members of the legal community. Members of the public are invited to submit their input with respect to qualified candidates who merit consideration at www.justice.gc.ca/eng/scc-csc.html.
- The list of qualified candidates will be reviewed by a selection panel composed of five Members of Parliament – including three Members from the Government Caucus and one Member from each of the recognized Opposition Caucuses, as selected by their respective leaders – to review the list of qualified candidates.
- The Supreme Court Selection Panel will be responsible to assess the candidates and provide an unranked short list of three qualified candidates to the Prime Minister of Canada and the Minister of Justice for their consideration.
- The selected nominee will appear at a public hearing of an ad hoc parliamentary committee to answer questions of Members of Parliament. This is a process that was first established for the appointment of the Honourable Mr. Justice Marshall E. Rothstein in 2006.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to wish Justice Marie Deschamps all the best in her upcoming endeavours. She will be missed.”
