On March 24, 2017, The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced four judicial appointments to the Court of Queen's Bench in Alberta - one for Edmonton, one for Red Deer, and two for Calgary. The appointees include a UAlberta Law alumnus and a long-standing sessional instructor. Please see below for short biographies.
"This announcement by the Minister of Justice is welcome news for Albertans," said Dean Paul Paton. "The appointments 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. As I noted during Clara Hughes' recent visit to the Faculty, the Hon. Madam Justice Michele Hollins has served to inspire an important dialogue in the legal profession with her leadership at the Canadian Bar Association on issues concerning mental health and wellness. She has been personally supportive of our efforts at the Faculty to change the dialogue, for which we are most grateful. We are especially proud that the Hon. Mr. Justice deWit is an alumnus of the Faculty and the Hon. Madam Justice Khullar has served with distinction as a sessional instructor, in addition to her service as a board member of both the Alberta Law Reform Institute and Centre for Constitutional Studies. Both individuals are tremendous ambassadors for the Faculty of Law, joining 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, to Albertans, and to all Canadians."
William T. deWit, Q.C. (LLB '94), a partner at Wolch deWit Watts & Wilson, is appointed a Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in Calgary. He replaces Madam Justice M.C. Erb, who elected supernumerary status effective November 15, 2016. Before beginning his legal career, Justice deWit was an Olympic and professional boxer, earning numerous boxing titles including an Olympic Games Silver Medal (1984). He articled with Justice Milt Harradence at the Alberta Court of Appeal and completed his articles at Howard Mackie (now Borden Ladner Gervais). After joining Wolch deWit Watts & Wilson in 1996, he became a partner in 2000, where his practice focused on criminal law and quasi-criminal offences. Since 2012, Justice deWit has taught in the National Criminal Law Program organized by the Federation of Law Societies.
Ritu Khullar, Q.C. (BA '85), managing partner at Chivers Carpenter Lawyers, is appointed a Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in Edmonton. She replaces Madam Justice M. Crighton, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal of Alberta on October 19, 2016. Justice Khullar was born in Fort Vermilion, Alberta, to parents who emigrated from India. In 1985, she obtained an Honours BA from the University of Alberta, and later an LLB from the University of Toronto. After clerking at the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Justice Khullar went into private practice with Chivers Carpenter Lawyers, where she focused on labour and employment, privacy, administrative, human rights, and constitutional law. Justice Khullar was a sessional instructor at UAlberta Law from 2001-11 where she taught Labour Arbitration. In addition, she served on the University of Alberta Senate; as a Supervising Lawyer for the Pro Bono Students Canada Projects, Student Legal Services; and was a board member of both the Alberta Law Reform Institute and Centre for Constitutional Studies.
More information on the new judicial appointments can be found on the Government of Canada website.