On October 26 and November 1, 2016, the Government of Alberta announced four appointments to the Provincial Court of Alberta. Three of the appointees are UAlberta Law alumni, and one has been a guest lecturer at the Faculty. Please see below for short biographies. More information on the appointments can be found on the Government of Alberta's website: here and here.
"The appointment of four new judges to the Provincial Court - in addition to earlier judicial appointments to the Court of Appeal of Alberta and the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta - is more good news for Albertans," said Dean Paul Paton. "These appointments will also help to address the challenges facing those engaged in criminal, civil, and family cases in the province, thereby increasing access to justice for Albertans. On behalf of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law community, congratulations and best wishes to the four new appointees. We are proud that three of the four new judges are alumni and that Judge DePoe has shared his expertise with our students as a guest lecturer. All four are wonderful ambassadors for the Faculty of Law and its longstanding legacy of commitment to public service."
Michelle Doyle, Q.C. (LLB '94) has been appointed to Provincial Court, Edmonton Criminal. Since 1995 she has been a Crown prosecutor, most recently serving as Chief Crown prosecutor in the Edmonton office of the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service. Her volunteer service includes collaborations with law enforcement on initiatives related to policing and public safety, in addition to work with the Zebra Child Protection Centre and the Edmonton Sexual Assault Centre.
Jasmine Sihra (LLB '93) has been appointed to Provincial Court, Northern Region. She became a member of the Alberta Bar in 1994, and has practiced law in Grande Prairie in a number of areas, including criminal, family, real estate, and corporate law, in addition to teaching law and business classes at Grande Prairie Regional College. She served as a Crown prosecutor from 2007-2016.
D'Arcy DePoe has been appointed to the Provincial Court, Edmonton Criminal. Called to the Alberta Bar in 1981, he has extensive trial experience in criminal legal matters and is a longtime advocate within his community and the legal profession. A past president of the Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association, Judge DePoe has taught the Alberta Bar Admission Course and a number of Legal Education Society seminars. He has also visited classes at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law as a guest lecturer.
Thomas Achtymichuk, Q.C. (LLB '89) has been appointed to the Provincial Court, Edmonton Region. A member of the Alberta Bar since 1990, Judge Achtymichuk was most recently a partner at McCuaig Desrochers LLP in Edmonton, where he practiced civil litigation and business law. He has served as president of the Alberta branch of the Canadian Bar Association and as director of the Legal Education Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Insurance Association. Judge Achtymichuk was also chair of the Legislation and Law Reform Committee of the Canadian Bar Association and has been a speaker at continuing legal education conferences and for the articling student admission program for many years.