By Chris Brown / CHAT News Today

Five Judges, Four Justice of the Peace

Alberta government fills court vacancies in Calgary, Edmonton

Feb 10, 2023 | 1:07 PM

Five judges and four justices of the peace have been appointed to the provincial court to fill vacancies in Calgary and Edmonton.

Derek G. Redman, chief judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta, congratulated the appointees in a statement.

“These excellent appointees, from diverse backgrounds, will enhance the court’s ability to provide an accessible and timely system of justice for Albertans,” it reads.

The province says filling the vacancies will strengthen Alberta’s justice system. The provincial court handles more than 100,000 criminal cases, 17,000 family and child protection cases, and about 10,000 civil cases each year in 72 communities in Alberta.

The court will also be renamed the Alberta Court of Justice, effective April 1.

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Judges’ biographies

Frank Bosscha, KC, who will serve in the Edmonton criminal division, received his bachelor of laws from the University of Victoria in 1990. After a number of senior leadership roles in Alberta’s justice department, he has served as its deputy minister for the last four years. Bosscha’s appointment starts March 27.

Lionel R.R. Chartrand received a bachelor of laws in 1984 from the University of Manitoba. He was admitted to the Alberta bar in 2008. For the past 10 years, Chartrand has practised criminal law out of his private practice. He is of First Nation and Métis ancestry, and a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. He is appointed to the Edmonton criminal division, starting March 1.

Indra L. Maharaj received a master of laws from the University of Manitoba in 2000, and one from the University of Calgary in 2018. She was admitted to the Manitoba bar in 1990 and the Alberta bar in 1997. Maharaj has been appointed to the Calgary criminal division and Calgary regional division, effective March 6.

Thomas D. Marriott, KC, received his bachelor of laws from the University of Alberta in 1988, and was admitted to the Alberta bar the next year. He practises mainly in utility regulation, municipal and administrative law, and professional liability and discipline. He has been appointed to the Edmonton criminal division, effective March 6.

Jordan J. Stuffco, who has been appointed to Edmonton regional division, received his juris doctor in 2003 from the University of Toronto. He was admitted to both the British Columbia bar and Alberta bar in 2004. His legal career primarily focused on criminal matters throughout central and northern Alberta. He has been lead counsel at Stuffco Law since 2012. He is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. His appointment is effective March 13.

Justices’ of the peace biographies

Craig T.A. McDougall, KC, received his bachelor of laws from the University of Alberta in 1993, and was admitted to the Alberta bar the next year. He practises corporate law, venture technology, intellectual property, and technology and information technology licensing and contracting. He has been appointed full time in Edmonton, effective May 8.

Alison Sabo, who will be a part-time justice of the peace in Calgary, received a bachelor of laws degree in 2003 from the University of Alberta, and was called to the Alberta bar in 2004. Sabo has been in-house counsel for the Alberta Utilities Commission for more than 10 years. She starts March 27.

Mathieu St-Germain, who was appointed a full-time justice of the peace in Calgary, received his law degree from the University of Ottawa and was admitted to the Quebec bar in 2006. He was legal counsel for the Calgary Police Service and, most recently, acting general counsel for the Medicine Hat Police Service. St-Germain begins this role March 27.

Kelly W. Wong received her bachelor of laws from the University of Alberta in 2008, and was admitted to the Alberta bar in 2009. Her legal practice primarily focuses on wills and estates, as well as real estate. She has been appointed part-time in Edmonton, effective March 27.

Lawyers with at least 10 years at the bar can apply to become a provincial court judge, and those with at least five years at the bar can apply to become a justice of the peace for a 10-year appointment.

Applications for judges and justices of the peace are considered first by the Alberta Judicial Council, which makes recommendations to the Provincial Court Nominating Committee. The committee makes recommendations to the minister of justice and attorney general, who then makes recommendations to cabinet.