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

The new judge will be Raymond Phillips, whose appointment fills a vacancy at the Kamloops provincial court. Phillips was born in Kamloops and is a member of the Lytton First Nation – Nlaka'pamux. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a bachelor of laws in 1993. He was called to the bar in 1994 and articled with the federal Department of Justice before joining the St’at’imc/ Nlaka'pamux Legal Services Society as a staff lawyer. Since 2002, Phillips has been a general practitioner, helping clients with a variety of legal issues, including criminal law, real estate, contracts and settlements. He has also served as duty counsel for the Chnúkcwentn First Nations Court since 2013 and the Merritt First Nations Court since it opened in 2017. He was appointed Queen’s counsel in 2015.

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.

Quick Facts:

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