Vancouver – Attorney General David Eby announced the membership of the 2018 Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of B.C. Selection Committee Advisory Panel.

The Selection Committee Advisory Panel will be interviewing applicants for the role of Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of B.C. and will recommend a list of qualified candidates to the Attorney General. The Attorney General will then recommend a candidate to the Executive Council of the B.C. government for appointment as the new Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of B.C. for a term of seven years.

The advisory panel includes the president of the Law Society of B.C. and the president of the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch, as well as three distinguished members of the public, all bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience as senior leaders in both the community and legal profession. The advisory panel is being co-chaired by Associate Chief Judge Susan Wishart and B.C. Deputy Attorney General Richard Fyfe, Q.C.  

The advisory panel includes:

Trudi Brown, Q.C.

Ms. Brown was called to the B.C. bar in 1974 and then practiced for four years with the B.C. Crown Counsel Office. After leaving the B.C. Crown Counsel Office, Ms. Brown focused her practice primarily in the area of family law. Ms. Brown is a family law mediator and arbitrator, and a member of the B.C. Hear the Child Society. She is also a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Last year, Ms. Brown was awarded the inaugural Excellence in Family Law Award by the Law Society of B.C.

Richard Fowler, Q.C.

Mr. Fowler represents clients at all levels of Court in British Columbia and in the Yukon. He has extensive experience in both jury and non-jury criminal trials. He has successfully argued appeals in the British Columbia Court of Appeal, the Court of Appeal for Yukon, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also appeared before the Review Board. Mr. Fowler is a Director of the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers, serves on the Board of Governors of the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia, and serves as Treasurer of the Western Front Foundation.

Patrick Kelly

Mr. Kelly is a member of the Leq’a:mel First Nation in the Sto:lo Nation. He is vice president of the Canadian Executive Service Organization and until very recently operated a consulting business. Mr. Kelly also worked as a senior advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Previously, he worked in strategic planning and communications with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and was also involved with Cultural Relations and Corporate Training in BC Hydro's Aboriginal Relations Department. Mr. Kelly was also the executive director of the B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. He served as a bencher to the Law Society of B.C., a director of the B.C. Buildings Corporation, and a Governor with Vancouver Community College. Patrick is also appointed to the Judicial Council of B.C.

Miriam Kresivo, Q.C.

Ms. Kresivo practices in the area of corporate and governance matters. She has extensive experience in her role as general counsel of a major Canadian oil company. Ms. Kresivo has dealt with key business issues, including the development and implementation of business plans and strategic plans of large corporations, the development and approval of corporate policies, preparation and review of operating budgets, and crisis management relating to serious environmental concerns including all public affairs and media communication.  She is the president of the Law Society of B.C. and has been appointed to the Provincial Judicial Council.

Bill Veenstra

Mr. Veenstra practices in the areas of commercial and construction litigation. His commercial litigation practice encompasses all types of business disputes, including claims involving the real estate industry. He has extensive experience in complex litigation matters, and in the resolution of disputes through mediation, arbitration and trial proceedings. Mr. Veenstra is very active in the Canadian Bar Association, having served in a number of capacities at both the national level and with the B.C. Branch. He is currently the president of the B.C. Branch and also chaired the Canadian Bar Association National Civil Litigation Section in 2013-2104.

Quick Facts:

• The Provincial Court of British Columbia consists of 143 judges including two Associate Chief Judges and 27 Senior Judges.
• There are 31 judicial justices who sit in Abbotsford, Richmond, Kamloops, Port Coquitlam, Robson Square, Victoria and at the Justice Centre.
• There are five justice of the peace adjudicators who conduct simplified trials in civil cases with a monetary value from $5,001 to $10,000 in Vancouver and Richmond courthouses.
• The Chief Judge is uniquely positioned to lead the court in determining the administrative policies and actions the court should undertake.

Learn More:

For information about the judicial appointment process, visit: www.provincialcourt.bc.ca