Joyal, who was nominated by Carney on June 22 following recommendations from the Independent Advisory Board for the Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments, most recently served as Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba.
A judge for more than 25 years, Joyal has been recognised for his work to improve access to justice, modernise court operations and advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Before joining the bench, he practised criminal, constitutional and civil law in Manitoba and served as both a provincial and federal Crown prosecutor.
As part of the federal government's judicial appointment process, Joyal participated in a public question-and-answer session with parliamentarians following a special hearing by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
Joyal was first appointed to the Provincial Court of Manitoba in 1998 before moving to the Manitoba Court of Appeal and later the Court of King's Bench, where he became Chief Justice in 2011.
He is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. In 2025, the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law honoured him as a Jurist of Robson Hall for his contributions to the legal profession.
The Supreme Court of Canada comprises nine judges appointed by the Governor in Council and serves as the country's highest court.