QUEBEC - Premier Jean Charest is denying claims he has changed the rules for appointing judges to Quebec courts.
An aide to Quebec's justice minister has told Montreal Le Devoir that Charest allows cabinet members to see lists of candidates for judicial appointments before a final decision was made.
That would mark a drastic change to a practice in place since 1979, in which only the name of the person chosen is shown to cabinet.
Charest says the aide made a mistake and that he has not changed the judicial appointment process since taking power in 2003.
Opposition members are accusing Charest of allowing cabinet members to lobby on behalf certain judicial candidates.
Charest has launched a public inquiry into allegations made by a former justice minister that party fundraisers influenced judicial appointments.
