He takes on the new role on October 6
Central Region/Wetaskiwin-based justice Jason Neustaeter has been appointed assistant chief justice for the Alberta Court of Justice’s Central Region.
He steps into the role on October 6. As assistant chief justice, he will work in consultation with chief justice James Hunter to designate court sittings and take on tasks delegated by Hunter.
“Ensuring timely access to justice for all Albertans is a priority for our government. Justice Neustaeter brings years of experience and leadership to his new role as assistant chief justice. I welcome him to this important position with the Central Region of the Alberta Court of Justice,” said Mickey Amery, Alberta justice minister and attorney general, in a statement.
Neustaeter has tackled complex criminal matters in court. He has amassed over 30 years of legal and prosecutorial experience at both the provincial and federal levels.
He was assistant chief Crown prosecutor over 2012-2014 and a deputy chief prosecutor between 2014 and 2021 at the Edmonton Rural and Regional Response Office. He took silk in 2020.
In 2021, Neustaeter was part of what at the time was the biggest cohort of appointees to the Provincial Court of Alberta in at least two decades. He was joined by Grace Auger, Gordon Hatch, Sandra Mah, Karen Molle, T. Michael Scrase, Gregory Shannon, and Olugbenga Shoyele.
Neustaeter has served as a justice at the Alberta Court of Justice since 2021. His appointment fills a key leadership role to increase court capacity and enhance support to central Alberta’s justice system.
Hunter lauded the move while praising assistant chief justice Robin Snider. Per the Alberta government, it is actively recruiting justices for different locations throughout the year.
Last year, Robert Marceau was named the new assistant chief justice for the northern region of the Alberta Court of Justice effective January 1 this year. Gordon Putnam was appointed the assistant chief justice in Edmonton.
Other assistant chief justices appointed in recent years were former premier David Hancock as well as Eric Brooks and Eric Tolppanen. Hancock worked with the Edmonton Family and Youth Division; Brooks was assigned to the Southern region, while Tolpannen took on the Calgary criminal division.
