Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin will be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, becoming the first Indigenous person to serve on the nation’s highest court.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that he has nominated Ms. O’Bonsawin. She has served in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa since 2017.
His appointment will fill the vacancy left by Justice Michael Moldaver, who will retire on September 1.
Justice O’Bonsawin is a lawyer specializing in the areas of mental health, labor and employment law, human rights and privacy law.
She is a Franco-Ontarian Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation.
“Judge O’Bonsawin was appointed following an open and non-partisan selection process. I am confident that she will bring invaluable knowledge and contributions to our country’s highest court,” Trudeau said in a statement.
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