Harper nominates Justice Thomas Cromwell for SCC

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper has nominated Nova Scotia judge Thomas Cromwell to sit on the Supreme Court of Canada.

The move -- which bypasses an all-party selection committee just two days ahead of an election call -- will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Justice Michel Bastarache.

Cromwell currently sits on the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

Harper said Cromwell's candidacy was "highly recommended by judges, lawyers and other Atlantic Canadians."

The announcement suspends the work of Parliament's Supreme Court selection panel, which has been working on a short list of recommended candidates.

But the appointment will not be made until Cromwell faces an ad hoc all-party committee of the House of Commons.

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  Justice Minister Rob Nicholson speaks to the media in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008 after Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Nicholson announced the Honourable Justice Thomas A. Cromwell as the government's nominee to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court of Canada. (Nathan Denette / THE CANADIAN PRESS)