New Judge In Nanaimo

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Nine new judges appointed to courtrooms across B.C.

VICTORIA – Government has appointed nine new Provincial Court judges in regions around the province to further address caseload pressures on B.C.’s courts and improve access to the justice system.

Four of these new judges will be appointed to the Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley regions, with another two being placed in Prince George. One new judge has been appointed to each of Nanaimo, Smithers and Penticton. The chief judge has assigned the new judges to these specific communities in response to the court’s needs throughout the province, taking into account such matters as caseload demands, recent transfers within the court, retirements or judges choosing to move to the part-time program.

The total cost to government to support one Provincial Court judge is up to $1.4 million annually, including the judge’s salary and other costs for court administration staff, sheriffs, prosecution services and judicial support. Counting the latest additions, the B.C. government has now appointed 23 new Provincial Court judges in regions across the province since February 2010.

The Province continues to invest in critical resources in the justice system, including the ongoing hiring of court administration staff and sheriffs, and is committed to looking at ways of developing and implementing measures to increase court efficiencies and help avoid court delays.