They will commence their judicial duties on July 25
The Government of British Columbia has announced the appointment of two new judges to the Provincial Court.
Parveen Nijjar and Paul Pearson will commence their judicial duties on July 25. Nijjar brings over 15 years of legal experience to her new role. She began her career in international development with the United Nations in Uzbekistan, focusing on policy and legislation. Upon returning to Canada, she articled at a law firm with a high-volume legal aid practice, concentrating on child protection, family, and criminal law.
After being called to the bar, Nijjar worked for nearly six years in child protection and family mediation, eventually becoming director’s counsel. In 2018, she joined the Legal Services Branch at the Ministry of the Attorney General as director’s counsel and was soon promoted to deputy supervisor. Nijjar, fluent in Punjabi and proficient in Russian and Hindi, is also actively involved in the community, volunteering for numerous organizations and supporting low-income families.
Paul Pearson has nearly 25 years of experience as a criminal lawyer. For the first 20 years of his career, he was a partner at a renowned criminal defence firm before becoming Crown counsel in Victoria. Pearson has handled numerous complex cases, taught at Crown conferences, and mentored new counsel. He received the Crown Leadership Award for developing a cross-examination training series for Crown counsel. Pearson also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria's law faculty, where he taught criminal procedure and ethics, earning the inaugural adjunct professor award of excellence. Additionally, Pearson has been an elected representative for the Canadian Bar Association and held leadership positions in the Victoria Bar Association, including president and vice president.
Justice Minister Niki Sharma emphasized the importance of these appointments in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the judicial system. "The judiciary and the people of British Columbia will benefit from the expertise and professionalism of these two accomplished individuals," Sharma said.
