OTTAWA, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper Monday selected two nominees from Ontario to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court of Canada.
Justices Andromache Karakatsanis, 56, and Michael Moldaver, 64 -- who currently sit on the Ontario Court of Appeal -- will appear before a parliamentary committee Wednesday to face questions by government ministers, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., reported.
"Both Justice Karakatsanis and Justice Moldaver's candidacies were examined through a comprehensive process," Harper said in a statement. "Madam Justice Karakatsanis and Mr. Justice Moldaver are exceptional candidates who have the skills and qualifications necessary to serve Canadians as judges of the Supreme Court of Canada."
Moldaver began practicing criminal law in 1973, taught law, was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario in 1990 and in 1995 moved up to his current position on the Court of Appeal.
Karakatsanis was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court in 2002 after serving as secretary of the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat, deputy attorney general and clerk of the executive council and secretary of the cabinet, the CBC said.
Nine justices sit on the Supreme Court of Canada with three spots permanently reserved for judges from Quebec.
