The Government of British Columbia is appointing a new provincial court judge to support the judiciary with the resources needed to continue providing access to justice.

Judge David Patterson has been assigned to Prince Rupert, effective Aug. 12, 2019.

Patterson received a juris doctor degree from the University of British Columbia in 1992 and was called to the B.C. bar in 1993. He spent most of his legal career as a prosecutor but also has experience in criminal defence, family law, real estate transactions and civil litigation. Patterson became a partner at MTC Law in 2001.

In 2010, Patterson gave up his criminal law practice to devote his time to federal prosecutions, serving the Public Prosecution Service of Canada as the legal agent for the Surrey, New Westminster and Port Coquitlam courthouses. In that capacity, he managed a team of 16 full-time federal prosecutors and gained experience in all aspects of federal prosecutions, including pre-charge legal advice, charge approval, bail, trials, sentencings and appeals.

Patterson has served on the board of directors of a local youth non-profit and has been a sessional instructor in criminology at Simon Fraser University.

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