The Government of British Columbia is appointing three new provincial court judges to ensure the judiciary has the resources to continue to provide access to justice.

The new appointments fill vacancies created by retirements. They include:

• Judge Diana Dorey (effective April 9, 2018)
• Judge Peter McDermick (effective April 9, 2018)
• Judge Andrew Tam (effective April 4, 2018)

Dorey received a bachelor of laws (LLB) from the University of British Columbia in 1990 and went on to work as a civil litigator with Davis & Company and Dolden Wallace Folick LLP. For more than a decade, she served the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association in numerous roles, including as an elected officer on the board of directors. She also served as a board member with the Canadian Bar Insurance Association and the Canadian Bar Financial Service Corporation. Dorey will be assigned to the Fraser Region.

McDermick received an LLB from the University of British Columbia in 1996. He began his career as a securities solicitor and served as Crown counsel on a variety of cases, until launching his own criminal law practice in 2010. He serves in leadership and mentorship positions with several law community organizations, including the Fraser Valley Criminal Law Association, the Law Students Legal Advice Program and the Criminal Defence Advocacy Society. McDermick will be assigned to the Northern Region.

Tam received an LLB from the University of Victoria in 1997. He is currently a partner at the criminal law firm Mulligan Tam Pearson, which he co-founded in 1999. During his tenure there, he has conducted numerous criminal proceedings at Provincial Court. He has served with the Canadian Bar Association as treasurer and currently co-chairs its criminal justice section meetings, and has also contributed to the Law Society of B.C.’s Practice Checklist for the past 10 years. Tam will be assigned to the Interior Region.

Government and the public rely on judges for their integrity and impartiality, and trust they will deliver fair, learned decisions. These qualities are essential for maintaining the public’s confidence in the courts and are a vital component of any democratic justice system.

The chief judge determines the locations to which judges are assigned in order to meet the needs of the court.

Quick Facts:

• The process to appoint judges involves the following steps:
  • Interested lawyers apply and the Judicial Council of B.C., a statutory body made up of the chief judge, an associate chief judge, other judges, lawyers and lay people, reviews the candidates.
  • The council recommends potential judges to the Attorney General, with the final appointment made through a cabinet order-in-council.
• Although judges are located in a judicial region, many travel regularly throughout the province to meet changing demands.

Learn More:

Information about the judicial appointment process: www.provincialcourt.bc.ca