Bob Rae critical of how Supreme Court judges are picked

The former Liberal leader debated the merits of the selection process with ex-PM Kim Campbell, chair of a group advising Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on whom to pick for a court vacancy this fall.

Former interim federal Liberal Party leader Bob Rae has criticized part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new Supreme Court justice selection process as “misguided.”

“I don’t think you should have to apply to be a justice to the Supreme Court of Canada candidate,” Mr. Rae told an audience in a packed courtroom in the Supreme Court building in Ottawa.

“I’ve had one judge say to me, ‘If they think I’m the right person they should ask me if I want to do it or not, and if they don’t think I’m the right person then I’m not going into a lengthy competition to do it,’” Rae said.

“I think the prime minister has to be free, and your committee has to be free to say, ‘Here are some people who’ve applied; here are some other people who have not applied, who we also think should be considered.’”

He added: “You have to go out and encourage people to apply. What’s the difference between that and getting tapped on the shoulder? You’re saying, ‘We’ll tap you on the shoulder to apply.’”