Supreme Court nominee Joyal cites access to justice, outreach as key contributions

In his Supreme Court candidacy submission, Joyal says his most significant contributions to the law are his efforts to make justice more accessible and to engage with the public on the role of the courts.

“We are living in a new more complex legal era where the judiciary plays an increasingly important but sometimes misunderstood public role,” Joyal wrote in his submission, which was made public Monday.

He said this engagement is taking place in a social and political climate of increasing polarization, misinformation and disinformation among growing populations of seemingly disenfranchised, marginalized and vulnerable groups.

Joyal, who grew up in a bicultural family in St. Boniface, Man., said he still sees himself as a “sitting judge” who leads by example.

“In so doing, I author many judgments each year,” he wrote. “I am proud of the rigour of my many years of written jurisprudence generally and of certain judgments in particular in which my analysis on specific legal questions or issues has contributed to the growth or clarification of the law.”

The selection process for a new Supreme Court member began in March. An independent advisory board reviewed applications and submitted a short list of qualified candidates to Carney for consideration.

Members of the House of Commons justice committee will take part in a special hearing to learn more about the selection process.

A question-and-answer session will then be held with Joyal and members of the House justice committee and the Senate committee on legal and constitutional affairs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2026.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Supreme Court nominee Joyal cites access to justice, outreach as key contributions

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