BC appoints Christopher Churchill, Karen Leung, Colleen Elden, Sheryl Wagner to provincial court

Provincial government opened positions starting in March

BC appoints Christopher Churchill, Karen Leung, Colleen Elden, Sheryl Wagner to provincial court

British Columbia has appointed four new provincial court judges who are set to assume their roles in March.

The newly appointed judges are:

  • Christopher Churchill
  • Karen Leung
  • Colleen Elden
  • Sheryl Wagner

These appointments were made based on the he needs of the court, the diversity of the bench, and the specific areas of expertise of the candidates, the BC government said in a release.

“The province is committed to promoting equitable access to justice for all residents of BC,” the release added.

Appointed judges boast varied backgrounds

Churchill began his career as a defence counsel, handling a variety of cases across civil, family, and criminal law. In 1997, he became a solo practitioner and subsequently chose to narrow his focus to criminal defence. He has since dedicated his practice to representing individuals charged with criminal offences, advocating for their right to fair representation and justice across both Provincial and Supreme Courts.

Leung transitions to her new role following a decade-long tenure as legal counsel for the Provincial Court. Her involvement with various committees has seen her navigate complex interactions among the executive branch, counsel, and superior courts. During the pandemic, she helped draft Court Practice Directives and Notices to the Public that facilitated continued access to court services.

Elden has been practicing criminal law as defence counsel, complainant’s counsel in sexual abuse prosecutions, and ad-hoc Crown counsel. Her expertise also extends to acting as amicus curiae in complex criminal matters, assisting the court by presenting all relevant evidence and arguments.

Wagner initially made her mark as a mediator in Australia, resolving financial disputes between credit unions and their clients. She transitioned to Crown counsel in 2005 and has since held senior roles in litigation teams within the Special Prosecutions Unit of the BC Prosecution Service.

What are your thoughts on this story? Feel free to share your comments below.

Recent articles & video

Bennett Jones appears in eight commercial list cases last week

Supreme Court of Canada sets hearings for debt, mining, injury, robbery cases

Global firm Vinson & Elkins opens doors in Denver

University of Washington law school receives landmark bequest

Sean Griffin takes CEO mantle at Langlois

SCC says right to preliminary hearing is not tied to offence date

Most Read Articles

BC Supreme Court postpones estate trial due to fairness concerns over lack of legal counsel

BC civil liberties group intervenes in Sikh lawyer's challenge to oath of allegiance

Sustainability standards evolve: experts examine Canada’s growing ESG compliance challenges

McCarthy Tétrault appears in five commercial list cases last week