Two lawyers are facing charges under the Law Society of Manitoba after the regulatory body investigated complaints they hired a private investigator to surveil a judge who was hearing a case involving COVID-19 public health orders.

John Carpay, president of the Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, and Randal Jay Cameron face charges from the independent regulator.

Charges include undermining the public respect for the administration of justice and a hearing date has not been set.

Both men represented several churches that tried in 2021 to overturn Manitoba public health orders that temporarily prevented in-person religious services during the height of the pandemic.

The lawyers are also facing criminal charges for attempting to obstruct justice and intimidation of a justice system participant.

Manitoba’s justice minister at the time described the surveillance as gravely concerning and called on the provincial law society to investigate the conduct of the lawyers.