New committee to help appoint Nunavut judges, looking for members

Canada's justice minister is callingfor candidates fora new Nunavut judicial advisory committee, as part of the federal government's reforms to howjudges are appointed.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson Raybould is looking to appoint three people to this new committee. The groupwill review applications for judges in Nunavut and make recommendations on who should be appointed. The deadline to apply is Nov. 17.

"We know that the quality of Canada's judiciary is second to none. By making the judicial appointments process more open, transparent and accountable, we are now also enabling our judiciary to become more reflective of Canada's diversity," Wilson Raybould said in a statement.

"To this end, Judicial Advisory Committees across the country are being reconstituted with members who reflect the diversity of their communities. My hope is that Nunavut Land Claims Beneficiaries will apply for the positions of Public Representatives on the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Nunavut."

Court system stretched

Nunavut has been in dire need of judges since former Senior Judge Robert Kilpatrick made a public plea to the federal government last December.

• Nunavut circuit courts could be cancelled without more judges

The court system has alreadybeen feelingthe effects of its short bench, having cut 16 criminal docket weeks from the calendar in anticipation of a high workload on its judiciary.

• Judicial appointments can't come soon enough forNunavut

SinceKilpatrick's plea, he has retired opening the second vacancy and Nunavut was snubbed from getting any new judges during the last two rounds of federal appointments by Wilson Raybould, in Mayand again last month.

This, despite Nunavut's vetting committee meeting for the first time in four years back in April, and signing off on a number of recommendations for new judges.

• Committee comes up with short list of Nunavut judge candidates

All previous applications vacated

With the new system in place, everyone who had previously applied for a judicial appointment in Nunavutwill now have to re-apply. That also means the recommendations from the old vetting committee are no longer valid.

There is good news, though. A spokesperson for Wilson Raybould's office confirmed to CBC News that the minister plans to announce a number of deputy judge appointments in the near future.

Those who need help applying to be on the new committee can contact Clare Henderson at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit. She can be reached toll free at1-866-286-0546or by emailing ncj.chambers@gov.nu.ca.