Her term should have ended this Oct. 18, but she will keep serving until Dec. 31, 2026
Melissa Gillespie, chief judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia, has agreed to the BC attorney general’s request that she continue serving in the role until Dec. 31, 2026.
An information bulletin from the province’s attorney general shared that Gillespie’s original seven-year term would have ended on Oct. 18, 2025. BC’s attorney general requested the extension due to the comprehensive process for appointing a new chief judge and the time it would take to complete that process.
The province’s Ministry of Attorney General said the extension would allow it to focus on the BC government’s current events and priorities and begin the appointment process for the new chief judge early next year.
The BC government department noted that the chief judge generally holds the office for a seven-year term under BC’s Provincial Court Act, 1996, and helps guide the court’s direction, uphold the rule of law, and ensure the justice system remains modern, effective, efficient, and accessible.
In October 2023, Canadian Lawyer interviewed Gillespie about best practices for litigators, court innovation, and virtual proceedings.
She was born and grew up in Calgary, Alberta. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University in 1985, an LLB from the University of Toronto in 1989, and admission to the BC bar in 1991, according to information from the Provincial Court’s website.
Gillespie acted as Crown counsel in BC’s Fraser region for over two decades and worked mainly in Surrey and New Westminster. She became regional Crown counsel in 2005 and King’s counsel in 2009.
Upon joining the Provincial Court in 2012, she sat in Surrey and the Fraser Valley. She was appointed associate chief judge in 2016, acting chief judge in May 2018, and chief judge in October 2018.
Gillespie represented the court on the board of directors of the BC Justice Education Society. In this role, she helped provide education and training to police, prosecutors, and magistrates to help strengthen Guyana’s justice system from 2015–21. She became a member of the board of Access Pro Bono in 2021.
She was part of the BC Provincial Court Judges’ Association executive and was involved in the criminal law committee and other court committees. She also belonged to the National Judicial Institute’s board of governors and the Canadian Council of Chief Judges, which she also chaired.
Gillespie has helped educate members of judicial and legal communities, including through programs hosted by the Advocates Society, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Trial Lawyers Association, Canadian Bar Association, National Judicial Institute, and the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice.
