OTTAWA — Justice Michel Bastarache, a veteran of more than a decade on the Supreme Court of Canada, will step down at the end of the current session.

Bastarache, who will turn 61 in June, is well short of the mandatory retirement age of 75.

He gave no immediate reason for his departure.

His retirement will create the second vacancy on the nine-member court to be filled by Prime Minister Stephen Harper since his Conservative government took power in 2006.

Harper's previous appointment, Marshall Rothstein, was considered moderately right of centre in his judicial philosophy.

He was also the first judge in Canadian history to face hearings before a parliamentary committee about his appointment, in keeping with a new policy instituted by Harper.

Bastarache, whose retirement is effective June 30, said he hopes the government will fill the vacancy in time to bring the court back to full strength for the fall session in October.