Comox-based lawyer Roderick Sutton will be coming to Prince George to serve as a new provincial court judge in September.
Sutton was one of five new judges appointed by Attorney General Barry Penner on Sunday. Penner said the appointments will help address a shortage of provincial court judges in the province.
"These five new appointments will help reduce caseload pressures while we continue to work to balance the budget," Penner said in a written statement. "I'm confident these qualified individuals will serve the provincial court well by contributing their significant legal expertise and experience to B.C.'s judicial system."
Earlier this month local provincial court Judge Michael Brecknell threw out assault causing bodily harm charges against Kevin and Rodney Kaiser because their trial had not been completed two years after they were arrested. Brecknall cited a shortage of judges and court resources as the reason for the lengthy delay.
The Kaisers were facing charges from an incident in Fort Fraser on July 6, 2009. Brecknell ruled their Charter rights were violated by the undue delay in bringing their case to trial.
"The court constantly strives to serve the public interest in the administration of justice in the face of dwindling resources and burgeoning case load," Brecknell wrote in his reason for judgment. "Only government can reestablish the necessary and appropriate level of judicial and support resources."
Currently there are only four full-time judges and one part-time judge serving Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Valemount, McBride and Mackenzie, Brecknall said. That number was down from six full time judges in March, 2005.
Sutton said his appointment to the bench came as pleasant surprise.
"I'm very humbled and honoured," Sutton said. "To be honest I don't think I've digested it yet."
Sutton approached the bar in 1976 and practiced in Haida Gwaii, formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, from 1978 to 1997. He continues to work in Haida Gwaii periodically as a circuit lawyer, he said.
"For us, to a certain degree, a return to the north is a return home," Sutton said. "I've got a very long relationship with the First Nations in the Charlottes. I served the native community extensively, and still did up until this week."
As as student, he worked in the north doing topographical mapping. He received his law degree at UBC.
"I'm very familiar with the various communities in the north," he said. He and his wife have five children, all of whom were born on Haida Gwaii.
Sutton said he has extensive experience with the full gamut of provincial court matters including criminal, family and small claims law.
Sutton is a partner in Schaffrick and Sutton Law Corporation, however most of experience is a sole practitioner.
He said he will be busy winding down his practice and making moving arrangements prior to his official appointment to the bench on Sept. 19.
The other four judges were appointed to the bench in South Fraser/Surrey, Vernon and Williams Lake.
The attorney general appoints judges based on the recommendations of the B.C. Judicial Council - a committee made up of the chief judge, judges, lawyers and lay people.
- With files from Mark Nielsen
