Red Deer defence lawyer Michael Scrase has been appointed a Provincial Court judge and will work in the Red Deer/Central Region beginning July 12, 2021. (rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Esteemed Appointment

Red Deer defence lawyer appointed provincial court judge

Jul 12, 2021 | 11:22 AM

A Red Deer defence lawyer is now one of eight new judges appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta, the largest number of judges to be appointed at once in at least the last two decades.

T. Michael Scrase has been appointed to Red Deer/Central Region, starting July 12. According to provincial officials, Scrase earned his bachelor of laws in 1993 from the University of Alberta and has worked as a sole practitioner and criminal defence lawyer since 1995. Scrase is currently vice-president of the Red Deer Criminal Trial Lawyers Association.

In addition, Gordon Hatch has been appointed to Red Deer/Central Region, starting July 12. Hatch worked as a Crown prosecutor after earning his bachelor of laws in 2003 from the University of Alberta and worked with Hope Heinrich LLP in Prince George, B.C. Hatch also worked as an agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada and with the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service in Wetaskiwin, Vegreville, Fort Saskatchewan and Peace River. Since 2014, Hatch has been a sole practitioner.

Elsewhere, Jason Neustaeter, QC, has been appointed to Wetaskiwin/Central Region, starting July 12. Neustaeter worked with Legal Aid Manitoba in northern Manitoba, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in Edmonton and the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, appearing in rural courts across Alberta from High Level to Medicine Hat. Since 2014, he has been the deputy chief prosecutor in the Edmonton Rural and Regional Response Office.

Sandra Mah has been appointed to Calgary Criminal Division and Calgary Region, starting Aug. 16. Mah currently practises with DLA Piper (Canada) LLP.

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Karen Molle, QC, has been appointed to Calgary Criminal Division and Calgary Region, starting Aug. 9. In 2006, she entered private practice in Calgary, which involved trial and appellate work and focused on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Gregory Shannon, QC, has been appointed to Calgary Civil Division, effective July 30. He received the Governor General’s Golden Jubilee Award for public service in 2002 and in 2018 was named an International Fellow of The American College of Trust & Estate Counsel.

Olugbenga Shoyele, QC, has been appointed to Edmonton Criminal Division, starting July 12. Shoyele worked as a law professor in Nigeria and practised in Edmonton, most recently as legal counsel for the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench.

Grace Auger has been appointed to Lethbridge/Southern Region, starting Aug. 3. Auger is a member of the Bigstone Cree First Nation from the Treaty 8 Territory. She has worked with a number of law firms in the Treaty 7 Territory and most recently worked with Legal Aid Alberta on the Siksika First Nation.

“I congratulate all these worthy appointees and wish them success in their new roles as judges of the Provincial Court of Alberta. This group of appointees represents the diversity present in Alberta and will help increase access to justice for Albertans,” says Kaycee Madu, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, in a government press release. “These appointments make progress on my commitment to have our justice system reflect Alberta today. Our province will be better served by the elevation of these appointees to the bench, and I thank them for agreeing to serve Alberta.”

According to government officials, lawyers with at least 10 years at the bar can apply to become a Provincial Court of Alberta judge. Applications are considered first by the Judicial Council, which recommends applicants to the Provincial Court Nominating Committee. The committee then selects candidates, interviews and makes recommendations to the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.