CL Talk

A justice system for everyone: BC Chief Justice Leonard Marchand's vision for the courts

15 Apr 2025

Leonard Marchand was appointed Chief Justice of British Columbia in 2023 and is the first Indigenous person appointed to this role, being a member of the Okanagan Indian Band. Before joining the Court of Appeal in 2019, he practised civil litigation for nearly two decades and served as a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Chief Justice Marchand spoke to the CL podcast about his path to the bench, the challenges of judicial reform, and how he’s working to make the justice system more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to all Canadians. Last year, Chief Justice Marchand was recognized as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer magazine. Nominations for this year are now open: canadianlawyermag.com