Provincial government opened positions starting in March
British Columbia has appointed four new provincial court judges who are set to assume their roles in March.
The newly appointed judges are:
- Christopher Churchill
- Karen Leung
- Colleen Elden
- Sheryl Wagner
These appointments were made based on the he needs of the court, the diversity of the bench, and the specific areas of expertise of the candidates, the BC government said in a release.
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“The province is committed to promoting equitable access to justice for all residents of BC,” the release added.
Appointed judges boast varied backgrounds
Churchill began his career as a defence counsel, handling a variety of cases across civil, family, and criminal law. In 1997, he became a solo practitioner and subsequently chose to narrow his focus to criminal defence. He has since dedicated his practice to representing individuals charged with criminal offences, advocating for their right to fair representation and justice across both Provincial and Supreme Courts.
Leung transitions to her new role following a decade-long tenure as legal counsel for the Provincial Court. Her involvement with various committees has seen her navigate complex interactions among the executive branch, counsel, and superior courts. During the pandemic, she helped draft Court Practice Directives and Notices to the Public that facilitated continued access to court services.
Elden has been practicing criminal law as defence counsel, complainant’s counsel in sexual abuse prosecutions, and ad-hoc Crown counsel. Her expertise also extends to acting as amicus curiae in complex criminal matters, assisting the court by presenting all relevant evidence and arguments.
Wagner initially made her mark as a mediator in Australia, resolving financial disputes between credit unions and their clients. She transitioned to Crown counsel in 2005 and has since held senior roles in litigation teams within the Special Prosecutions Unit of the BC Prosecution Service.
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