How are judges appointed?

Answer 1

Judges are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General, a member of Cabinet.

The convention in New Zealand is that the most senior members of the Court of Appeal are appointed to the Supreme Court as judges on that court retire or resign. Judges in the Court of Appeal are appointed from the High Court, and judges in the High Court are appointed from senior members of the legal community.

Answer 2

Justices of all federal level courts, as well as of the superior (trial and appeal) courts of the provinces, are appointed by the Governor General of Canada, on the advice of federal Cabinet (effectively, the Prime Minister).

Justices of inferior provincial courts are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of the province in question, on the advice of the executive council of that province.

In each jurisdiction, ministers commonly rely on committees to recommend judges for appointment in order to limit partisan/patronage appointments.

Answer 3

The Prime Minister and the party in power. Many will point to our documents which clearly state the Queen and her representatives decide such matters. But Canada is a democracy and if the Queen even commented on such issues it would create a constitutional crises in Canada. Her role is, at best, ceremonial. The Prime Minister selects the judges and since they interpret our Constitution determines many basic ideas under which we live.