Two lawyers from Calgary have been disbarred after a disciplinary committee found they violated professional conduct rules by hiring a private investigator to surveil a Manitoba judge in 2021. The Law Society of Alberta issued disbarment notices on Tuesday for John Carpay and Jay Cameron, citing their failure to act with integrity and honor in their professional duties.

The investigation revealed that the lawyers conspired to have a private investigator follow Chief Justice Glenn Joyal of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench. Their aim was to catch him violating public health regulations during a constitutional challenge involving several Manitoba churches, including the Gateway Bible Baptist Church, against COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the provincial government.

Carpay, who is the president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, also directed the investigator to follow then-Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister and the province’s chief medical officer of health. At the time, Joyal was presiding over the case concerning the churches' challenge to the public health orders.

During the court proceedings, the judge became aware that he was being followed. One of the private investigator's agents even visited Joyal's home. Following this, Joyal called a meeting with Carpay and Cameron, where they admitted to their actions. Complaints were subsequently filed with the law societies in both Alberta and Manitoba.

The Law Society of Manitoba first took action against the lawyers, resulting in significant restrictions on their ability to practice law in that province. Although they faced criminal charges in Manitoba, those charges were later dropped. As part of a plea agreement, both lawyers accepted a three-year peace bond that prohibits them from practicing law.

Despite the sanctions from Manitoba, the Law Society of Alberta continued its own disciplinary process. At a hearing in May 2025, Carpay described the decision to spy on Joyal as “foolhardy, misguided, inappropriate and stupid.” He expressed concern about public officials potentially violating their own COVID-19 rules, stating, “There were rumors that the chief justice and the (Manitoba) premier were attending parties at each other’s homes.”

In addition to their disbarment, the Alberta hearing committee ordered Carpay to pay $7,457.50 in costs and Cameron to pay $5,270.63. Carpay remains the president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which has publicly criticized the disbarment as a “vindictive abuse of process.”

Carpay previously acknowledged that surveilling a judge was a mistake and issued a public apology in July 2021. He attempted to resign from the Alberta Law Society in December 2023, but his resignation was denied. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms stated that the disbarment does not affect their mission to defend the constitutional rights and freedoms of Canadians.