Rothstein, Marshall (1940-…), served as a puisne (associate) justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 2006 to 2015. Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed him to the court. Prior to his appointment, Rothstein served on the Federal Court of Appeal, which hears appeals in cases against, or affecting, Canada’s government.
Marshall E. Rothstein was born on Dec. 25, 1940, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He received a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Manitoba in 1966. He was admitted to the Bar of Manitoba—that is, the body of lawyers licensed to practice law in that province—that same year.
Rothstein worked in a private law firm from 1966 to 1992. During that time, he practiced primarily in the areas of transportation and competition law. From 1970 to 1983 and from 1988 to 1992, he also taught courses on law at the University of Manitoba.
In 1992, Rothstein was appointed to the trials division of the Federal Court of Canada and to the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada. In 1999, he received an appointment to the appeals division of the Federal Court of Canada. In 2003, the appeals division of the Federal Court became the Federal Court of Appeal.
Rothstein was the first Supreme Court nominee to face questioning by members of the House of Commons prior to his appointment. The interview was broadcast on Canadian television. Prime Minister Harper established this process in early 2006. However, the House committee lacked the power to veto the prime minister’s nomination. Rothstein retired from the Supreme Court in August 2015.
See also Supreme Court of Canada .
