As It Happens

Lawyer's victory as Supreme Court rejects Marc Nadon's appointment to Canada's top bench

Rocco Galati brought forward the challenge that no other lawyer was willing to take on. Last year, the Toronto-based lawyer mounted a constitutional challenge to block the Prime Minister's appointment of Marc Nadon to the Supreme Court of Canada. Today, he celebrates as the Supreme Court rejected Justice Marc Nadon's appointment....

Rocco Galati brought forward the challenge that no other lawyer was willing to take on. Last year, the Toronto-based lawyer mounted a constitutional challenge to block the Prime Minister's appointment of Marc Nadon to the Supreme Court of Canada. Today, he celebrates as the Supreme Court rejected Justice Marc Nadon's appointment.

It's an unprecedented rejection for a Canadian Prime Minister, and a defining moment in the balance of power between the Prime Minister's Office and the Supreme Court.

In his conversation with Carol Off, Rocco Galati says his victory buttresses the political independence of the Supreme Court.

"The court safeguards the rule of law," he says. "Without an independent court, free from really base political manipulation, we don't have a constitutional democracy. We just descend into other types of systems that we see around the world, where the executive, the government, pulls judges on their strings."

Hear the full interview with Rocco Galati by selecting the "Listen" button above.