Nunavut Court of Justice

The Nunavut Court of Justice (NUCJ; Inuktitut: ᓄᓇᕘᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔨᒃᑯᑦ, Nunavuumi Iqkaqtuijikkut; Inuinnaqtun: Nunavunmi Maligaliuqtiit, French: Cour de justice du Nunavut) is the superior court and territorial court of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. It is administered from the Nunavut Justice Centre (Building #510) in Iqaluit.

Nunavut Court of Justice
Arms of the Court of Justice
Established1999
LocationIqaluit
Composition methodappointed by the federal government
Authorized byGovernment of Canada by Nunavut Act, 1993
Appeals toNunavut Court of Appeal
Number of positions6[1]
Websitehttp://www.nunavutcourts.ca/index.php/nunavut-court-of-justice
Chief Justice
CurrentlyMr Justice Neil Sharkey
Since2016

It was established on April 1, 1999 as Canada's only "unified" or single-level court with the consent of Canada, the Office of the Interim Commissioner of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Inuit Land Claims representative organization. Prior to the establishment of Nunavut as a separate territory justice was administered through two courts, the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories and the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.[2]

Besides court proceedings in Iqaluit the judges travel as a circuit court to communities throughout the territory to conduct cases.

Judges

Current judges
Position Name Appointed Short History Current Status
Justice Andrew Mahar[3] March 2012 Clinic Director in Kitikmeot, Defence Counsel Resigned, now a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories

Solo Practitioner (2001 to 2012) Legal Aid (1994 to 1997)

Justice Earl Johnson 2002 Senior Legal Counsel, Northwest Territories Department of Justice (Yellowknife) appointed in 2003 to support growing work of the Court, largely engaged in civil cases Retired
Chief Justice Neil Sharkey [4] December 2008 Legal Director at Maliiganik Tukisiniakvik (Iqaluit - 1986), first judge called to the bench from the Nunavut Bar, appellate practice, Justice of the Peace Administrator (1999) Active
Justice Susan Cooper December 2009 Law Clerk to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Partner with law firm Chandler & Cooper Active
Justice Bonnie M. Tulloch[3] March 2012 Special Advisor on northern issues, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Legal Aid Executive Director (Gjoa Haven) and Kivalliq Legal Aid Director (Rankin Inlet), Director of Akitsiraq Law School Society Active
Justice Paul Bychok December 2015 Crown Prosecutor Active
Justice Susan Charlesworth[5] June 2018 Criminal defence lawyer, defence counsel at Maliganik Tukisiniarvik Legal Services Active
Justice Christian Lyons[5] June 2018 Crown Prosecutor, defence counsel with legal aid in Iqaluit Active

Past Judges
Position Name Appointed Short History Current Status
Senior Judge Robert Kilpatrick October 2009

1999

Appointed at the creation of Nunavut in 1999, Administrative Crown Counsel, (British Columbia), Legal Counsel in Inuvik and Whitehorse

 Retired
Senior Judge Beverley Browne 1993 - 2009 originally a Territorial Court Judge in pre-division Northwest Territories, made Senior judge in 1999 on the creation of Nunavut, strong supporter of the Akitsiraq Law School program, leader in music education (Iqaluit Music Society), church organist (St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral) and responsible for the integration of Inuit elders into functions in the Nunavut Courts. Resigned, sitting on the Alberta Bench. Died on March 24, 2021.[6]

References
  1. "Nunavut Courts - Judiciary".
  2. Nunavut Court of Justice: About the Nunavut Court of Justice
  3. "NUNAVUT JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED". Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  4. "Nunavut Judicial Appointment Announced". Archived from the original on 2011-09-20.
  5. Jun 24, Sara Frizzell · CBC News · Posted; June 24, 2018 4:00 AM CT | Last Updated. "Nunavut bench filled out with 2 new judges, after years of being short-staffed | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  6. "Remembering the life of Beverley Browne 1952 - 2021".
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