Prince George provincial court judge Ron Tindale has been promoted to the B.C. supreme court, the federal justice department said Friday.
Tindale will continue to hear cases in Prince George, where he replaces Eric Chamberlist, who retired as a B.C. supreme court justice nearly 15 months ago.
Lawyer Harris Johnsen applauded the announcement.
"I think it's a great appointment," said Johnsen, the B.C. Trial Lawyers Association northern representative. "Ron was an excellent lawyer and his is an excellent provincial court judge... and I think it's great that he's got this new appointment at a higher level of court."
With Tindale's appointment there are now two B.C. supreme court justices in Prince George. However, Justice Glen Parrett, who is currently presiding over a lengthy murder trial at the courthouse, is now down to part-time duty and the courthouse continues to rely on justices from out-of-town to hear most cases which has caused scheduling headaches.
Tindale's appointment also means there is now a vacancy in provincial court where several cases have been dismissed because they could not be heard in a reasonable time due to a lack of staffing.
"They're certainly needed at that provincial court level and I would not want to see that vacancy at that level remain for very long," Johnsen said.
As for whether an additional justice is needed in Prince George, Johnsen said he's not sure.
Attorney General Shirley Bond said the process of finding a replacement for Tindale has now started but also said it involves several steps, beginning with applications by lawyers to the B.C. Judicial Council, followed by a review by a committee, then a recommendation to the Attorney General and then a final appointment through a cabinet order-in-council.
"Nonetheless, I have asked staff to address this vacancy as quickly as is possible within this process," Bond said in an e-mail.
The federal government appoints supreme court justices, who typically hear cases involving serious criminal charges and civil matters involving more than $10,000 while the provincial government appoints provincial court judges, who are generally responsible for cases with sentences of no than two years less a day and small claims hearings.
Tindale, who was called to the bar in 1989, has spent most of his legal career in Prince George.
Prior to becoming a provincial court judge in early 2010, Tindale had been an associate at Dick Byl Law since 2005. called to the bar in 1989 and has experience as both as a prosecutor and defence lawyer.
He was also a bencher with the Law Society between 2006 and 2008 and has served as vice-president of the Prince George Bar Association.
Tindale will be sworn in on Monday at the Law Courts in Vancouver and a separate ceremony will be held in Prince George at a later date.
