OTTAWA – Justice Louis LeBel of the Supreme Court of Canada has given formal notice that he will retire when he hits age 75 on Nov. 30.
LeBel was appointed to the court in January 2000, after 15 years as a judge of the Quebec Court of Appeal.
His retirement means Prime Minister Stephen Harper will have to name two new justices in the next six months.
READ MORE: Could the Conservatives appoint another Marc Nadon to the Supreme Court?
The court, which normally comprises nine members, has short a justice for its entire last term.
Harper’s nomination of semi-retired Federal Court judge Marc Nadon was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, which found Nadon didn’t meet the requirements for one of the three slots reserved for justices from Quebec.
READ MORE: PMO suggested Justice Marc Nadon resign, join Quebec bar: sources
Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin says LeBel served the court with great distinction.
Comments