Within the Canadian Forces there is a mechanism known as a CANFORGEN, or Canadian Forces general message, which is distributed very broadly in the forces by a variety of means. A CANFORGEN is published when the time in the cycle comes along to refresh the list of potential applicants. The list is valid for three years.
For example, earlier this year there was a CANFORGEN, and people who were interested were invited to submit their names to the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs for consideration and fill out an application form, which is very closely analogous to that for applying for appointment as a civilian judge.