Donating Judges is a series of articles examining the politicization of federal appointments to Canada’s courts and tribunals. It is the result of an eight-month data analysis investigation by the National Post and the Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF), with reporters Christopher Nardi of the Post and the IJF’s Kate Schneider.

In late June, human rights lawyer Yavar Hameed filed a lawsuit asking the Federal Court to order the prime minister and justice minister to fill nearly 80 judge vacancies across provincial superior courts. Judicial vacancies have caused significant and growing court delays, which have “harmed” his vulnerable clients, Hameed said in his lawsuit.