Chief Justice of the Federal Court Allan Lutfy plans to retire Sept. 30 after holding the position for eight years.

Lutfy, 67, advised Canadian Justice Minister Rob Nicholson of his decision to resign on Tuesday. He has elected to be a supernumerary or part-time judge of the court.

Chief Justice of the Federal Court Allan Lutfy announced his retirement on Tuesday. He joined the Federal Court in 1996 and was appointed chief justice on July 2, 2003, by Jean Chrétien, who was then prime minister. Before that, he served as associate chief justice for three years.

The Federal Court is Canada's national trial court, which hears and decides legal disputes arising in the federal domain, including claims against the government of Canada, civil suits in federally regulated areas and challenges to the decisions of federal tribunals, according to the court’s website.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper already has two high-level court positions to fill. Supreme Court of Canada justices Louise Charron and Ian Binnie, both from Ontario, announced their retirements in mid-May. They will both step down on Aug. 30.

When Lutfy, who is from Quebec, departs at the end of September it will leave a third position vacant.

Before being appointed the judiciary, Lutfy specialized in civil litigation and administrative law in Quebec and Ontario.

He acted as counsel before a number of commissions of inquiry related to national security, the state of competition in the petroleum industry and the use of drugs in sports. He was also counsel to the Security Intelligence Review Committee and to the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery.

Between 1973 and 1979, he was a political adviser for the federal government.

Lutfy was born in Montreal and attended Loyola College. He graduated in civil law from McGill University in 1967.

He married his wife, Brigitte Lord, in December 1979, and they are the parents of three children: Pierre, Patrick and Caroline.