Canadian Judicial Council completes review of matter involving the Honourable Earl Wilson

Ottawa, April 1, 2025 – A review panel constituted by the Canadian Judicial Council (Council) has completed its review and reached a decision in a matter involving Justice Earl Wilson of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. The matter stemmed from a complaint alleging that Justice Wilson had unfairly treated, intimidated, and humiliated one of the parties during a hearing concerning a proposed restraining order. 

Following a review of the complaint by a screening officer, the matter was referred to the Honourable Faye E. McWatt, Associate Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, as the designated reviewing member in this matter. Following her own review of the file, Associate Chief Justice McWatt referred it to a review panel pursuant to section 95 of the Judges Act, and section 7.11(b) of the Council’s Review Procedures (2023).

After a thorough consideration of the matter, the review panel concluded that there was no basis on which Justice Wilson’s removal from office could be justified in the circumstances, nor could the complaint be dismissed. The review panel agreed with and adopted the reviewing member’s explanations that Justice Wilson’s interventions went beyond what is usually considered the exercise of proper firmness and did not preserve the honour and dignity of both the individual proceedings and the administration of justice more generally, in accordance with the Council’s Ethical Principles for Judges. In addition, the review panel agreed that maintaining civility and respect requires judges to ensure a proper balance between upholding the right of parties to be heard and ensuring the efficiency of the process, and that Justice Wilson’s comments in court did not have the effect of maintaining such a proper balance. The review panel therefore concluded that an action of a private nature pursuant to section 102 of the Judges Act was appropriate in the circumstances.

The review panel was comprised of the Honourable Associate Chief Justice Jean-François Michaud of the Superior Court of Québec, the Honourable Justice Valerie Marshall of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, and a member of the public, Ms. Nancy Konan-Waidhet. 

A copy of the review panel’s full decision can be accessed from the Council’s website.

About the Canadian Judicial Council

The Council was created in 1971 by the Canadian Parliament to maintain and improve the quality of judicial services in Canada's superior courts. It has the power and duty to investigate complaints into the conduct of federally appointed judges. The Council is also responsible for the continuing education of judges, as well as for developing other tools and programs to maintain public confidence in the judicial system.

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Contact :
Krista Ferraro
Director of Communications and Strategic Issues Management 
Canadian Judicial Council 
info@cjc-ccm.ca