Supreme Court Justice Sheilah Martin will retire this spring.

Justice Sheilah Martin will leave the Supreme Court of Canada effective May 30, creating a vacancy; she was appointed to the court in 2017 and has focused on Indigenous issues, education and equality.

Justice Sheilah Martin is retiring from the Supreme Court of Canada, with her departure effective May 30. The court said the move opens a vacancy on the bench. Martin was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2017 under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Her multi-decade legal career has included work on Indigenous issues, education and equality. Key points: - Martin's retirement is effective May 30, a day before her 70th birthday. - She was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2017 after serving on Alberta's Court of Queen's Bench and on appeal courts for Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. - Her first judicial appointment came in 2005 to the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta. - Chief Justice Richard Wagner praised her legal scholarship, commitment to fairness and support for openness and public engagement. - Supreme Court justices may participate in decisions for up to six months after their retirement date. Summary: Martin's departure creates a vacancy on the Supreme Court bench and will be filled on advice from the prime minister. The appointment process introduced in 2016 uses an independent advisory board to review candidates. Undetermined at this time.