Supreme Court won't hear plea from lawyers over Nadon challenge fees

Toronto lawyer Rocco Galati is pictured in Winnipeg, July 16, 2012. Constitutional lawyers are in Federal Court today, challenging a law that allows the government to strip a Canadian-born person of their citizenship, saying the new law is unconstitutional. (Trevor Hagan/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

OTTAWA -- Two lawyers have lost a court fight to be paid more for their part in challenging a controversial judicial nomination.

The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal from Rocco Galati and Paul Slansky, who felt they were shortchanged for their efforts in contesting the appointment of Marc Nadon.

Galati challenged the eligibility of the Federal Court of Appeal judge to fill one of three Supreme Court seats reserved for Quebec.

He put his challenge on hold when the Harper government referred the issue to the Supreme Court, which then nixed Nadon's appointment on the grounds it violated Quebec-specific provisions of legislation governing the high court.

Galati asked for $51,706.54, based on a charge of $800 an hour he said was reasonable for a lawyer with his experience, while Slansky, acting for the Constitutional Rights Centre, wanted $16,769.20 for helping him.

In December 2014, the Federal Court awarded them a total of $5,000 for their work.