Judges appointed to Provincial Court

Three new assistant chief judges have been appointed to the Alberta Provincial Court while Karim Zaher Jivraj was also appointed as a new judge for the Calgary Criminal Division.

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Edmonton - July 25, 2012 - Three new assistant chief judges have been appointed to the Alberta Provincial Court while Karim Zaher Jivraj was also appointed as a new judge for the Calgary Criminal Division, effective August 10th.

Judge Jerry LeGrandeur has been appointed to the Southern Region of Provincial Court, effective September 12. Judge LeGrandeur will replace Assistant Chief Judge Eric Peterson.

Judge James Ogle has been appointed to the Calgary Criminal and the Calgary Region of Provincial Court, starting September 16. Judge Ogle will replace Acting Assistant Chief Judge Robert Wilkins.

Judge L. Diane Young has been appointed to the Provincial Court’s Civil Division beginning September 12. Judge Young will replace Assistant Chief Judge Norman Hess.

“I congratulate the judges on their appointments, and look forward to their continued leadership and service to Albertans,” said Jonathan Denis, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. “All of these appointees have strong credentials and a history of taking a common sense approach to justice.”

“I want to thank judges Peterson, Wilkins and Hess for the excellent service they provided to Albertans during their time as Assistant Chief Judges,” said Denis. “They played an important role in keeping Alberta’s communities safe and providing justice for countless Albertans.”

All three appointments are five year terms.

"Mr. Jivraj has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to professional development, education and leadership," said Jonathan Denis, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. "I am pleased to have him join the Provincial Court as we work together to ensure Alberta has the most accessible justice system in Canada and that our communities are among the safest in the world.”

Karim Jivraj graduated from the University of Calgary with a degree in Law in 1989. In 1991 he established the firm Jivraj Knight & Pritchett, Barristers and Solicitors. He has extensive courtroom experience in both civil and criminal litigation and has a large pro bono practice. Judge Jivraj served a three year term as a member of the Aga Khan Ismaili Conciliation and Arbitration Board of Canada.

The Alberta Judicial Council screens all candidates for Provincial Court appointments and forwards a list of recommended applicants to the Provincial Court Nominating Committee. The committee then interviews candidates from the list and recommends the names of those appointees felt to be of the highest calibre to the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.

The Provincial Court Nominating Committee was established in 1999. The 11 members are appointed by the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General and represent the Alberta Provincial Court, the Law Society of Alberta, the Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch), other members from the legal profession, and the public. The Judicial Council has representatives from the Alberta Provincial Court, Court of Queen’s Bench, Court of Appeal and the Law Society of Alberta. It also includes two people appointed by the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.