Liberals Reject Justice Committee Probe Into Leaked Details Of Top Court Appointment

OTTAWA — The federal Liberals have used their majority on a House of Commons committee to block an opposition attempt to investigate the leak of confidential information about applicants for a seat on the Supreme Court of Canada.

Conservatives and New Democrats wanted the Commons justice committee to find out who leaked information about a dispute between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould over who should be named chief justice of the top court.

But a motion to launch an investigation has been defeated by a vote of 5-4.

More from HuffPost Canada:

• Trudeau: PMO Did Not Leak Stories About Wilson-Raybould's Supreme Court Pick
• Inside The Liberal Party's Battle Royal (Podcast)
• Philpott Confirmed Support For PM Hours Before He Kicked Her Out Of Caucus

The Canadian Press and CTV reported last month that Wilson-Raybould recommended Glenn Joyal, chief justice of Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench, to become chief justice.

According to sources, Trudeau was concerned about her choice because he believed Joyal favoured a conservative, restrictive approach to interpreting the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Trudeau ultimately named sitting Supreme Court Justice Richard Wagner to replace retiring chief justice Beverley McLachlin.

Watch: Trudeau ratchets up rhetoric over SNC-Lavalin affair