On October 20, 2016, the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced seven judicial appointments to courts in Alberta and three appointments to courts in British Columbia as part of the announcement of 24 judicial appointments across Canada. Five of the Alberta appointees and one of the British Columbia appointees has ties to the University of Alberta Faculty of Law; please see below for short biographies. More information on the judicial appointments can be found on the Government of Canada's website.
"This announcement by the Minister of Justice is welcome news for all Canadians," said Dean Paul Paton. "The appointments to Alberta's courts, for example, will 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, I would like to congratulate all of the appointees and offer our best wishes. We are especially proud that four of the Alberta appointees - and one of the B.C. appointees - are alumni of the Faculty and two have taught as sessional instructors. We also acknowledge and appreciate the distinguished service of one former member of the board of the Alberta Law Reform Institute. These individuals are tremendous ambassadors for the Faculty of Law. They join the ranks of generations of distinguished graduates and affiliates of the Faculty appointed to the bench in the proud tradition of service to the law, Albertans, British Columbians, and all Canadians."
The Honourable Michelle G. Crighton (LLB '84), a judge of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton, is appointed a judge of the Alberta Court of Appeal in Edmonton to replace Mr. Justice J. Watson, who elected supernumerary status effective January 1, 2016. She is also appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories and a judge of the Court of Appeal of Nunavut.
Kevin P. Feehan, Q.C. (LLB '78), a partner with Dentons Canada LLP in Edmonton, is appointed a judge of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton to replace Madam Justice B.A. Browne, who elected supernumerary status effective January 25, 2016. Justice Feehan has been teaching constitutional litigation at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law as a sessional instructor.
James T. Eamon, Q.C., a partner with Gowling Canada in Calgary, is appointed a judge of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in Calgary to replace Madam Justice B.E. Romaine, who elected supernumerary status effective January 1, 2016. Justice Eamon served on the board of the Alberta Law Reform Institute and addressed the University of Alberta Faculty of Law Class of 2018 at Orientation in September 2015 in his capacity as (then) president of the Law Society of Alberta.
George Fraser (LLB '96), a prosecutor with Alberta Justice in Edmonton, is appointed a judge of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton to replace Madam Justice D.C. Read, who elected supernumerary status effective March 1, 2016.
Bonnie Bokenfohr (LLB with Distinction '01), interim executive director for the Edmonton Police Commission, is appointed a judge of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton to replace Mr. Justice D. Lee, who elected supernumerary status effective September 6, 2016. Justice Bokenfohr has been teaching professional responsibility at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law as a sessional instructor.
Joyce M. DeWitt-Van Oosten, Q.C. (LLB '91), an Assistant Deputy Attorney General with the Ministry of Justice in Victoria, is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver to replace Madam Justice B.J. Brown, who was transferred by the Chief Justice effective September 11, 2015.