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Ministry of Justice

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Backgrounders

Provincial court judge biographies

Judge Valliammai Chettiar – Judge Chettiar graduated with her law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1992 and was called to the bar in 1993. Judge Chettiar has 20 years of legal experience in a number of areas of the law including: administration; civil litigation; mediation and arbitration; securities taxation; wills; estates and trusts; and real estate. She has practised as a sole practitioner, partner of a national law firm, general counsel and in-house corporate counsel for both public and private corporations. Ms. Chettiar recently served as vice-chair of the Property Assessment and Appeal Board and mediator/arbitrator for the Surface Rights Board.

Judge Kathryn Ferriss – Judge Ferriss attended the University of British Columbia law school and graduated with her bachelor of laws in 1986. She was called to the bar in 1987 and has dedicated the majority of her 24 year legal career to representing legal aid clients in all types of family and child protection matters. Ms. Ferriss recently implemented and managed the first expanded family duty counsel in B.C., providing family law advice to litigants at both the Supreme and provincial courts.

Judge Christine Lowe – Judge Lowe attended law school at the University of British Columbia and graduated in 1988. Prior to law school, she graduated from Simon Fraser University with her bachelor of arts in criminology. While she was in law school, Ms. Lowe worked as a correctional officer at a women’s prison. She was called to the bar in 1989 and has worked in a variety of roles with the Criminal Justice Branch for 23 years. Recently, as deputy regional Crown counsel, she was responsible for oversight of all criminal cases on southern Vancouver Island and supervised over 50 lawyers and administrative support staff.

Judge Jay Solomon – Judge Solomon obtained his law degree from McGill University in 1986 and then pursued his masters degree in criminology from Simon Fraser University, graduating in 1988. After being called to the bar in 1990, Mr. Solomon went on to establish his own mixed litigation practice with an emphasis on criminal defence and personal injury. For 20 years, he has served on the board of directors for the Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families – a non-profit society that provides an alternative high school, day care and programs for families in need of social services.

Judge Danny Sudeyko – Judge Sudeyko graduated from the University of Victoria with his bachelor of laws in 1987. Prior to law school, he graduated from the University of British Columbia with his bachelor of social work and his bachelor of arts from Simon Fraser University. He was called to the bar in 1988 and entered private practice soon after. For almost 25 years, he has represented youth in care in criminal matters at all levels of the courts. He was recently given an award from the Squamish and Tslell Waututh Nations for his participation in the First Nations court in North Vancouver. For over 12 years, Mr. Sudeyko served the Legal Services Society in the North Shore/Coastal region, providing legal services to those in need.