B.C. Provincial Court welcomes three new judges: Ellen Hughes, Michelle Peacock, Susan Sangha

British Columbia’s Ministry of Attorney General has announced the appointments Ellen (Heidi) Hughes, Michelle Peacock and Susan Sangha to the Provincial Court of British Columbia, effective next month.

Hughes will be sworn in on Mar. 14. She will be assigned to the Fraser region with chambers in Surrey.

Hughes is a former counsel at the Ministry of the Attorney General − Legal Services Branch. She has extensive expertise in administrative law, contracts, constitutional law and employment and human rights and appeared in in all levels of court across the province.

Hughes obtained her law degree from the University of Virginia in 1990. She was called to the Massachusetts bar in 1990 and B.C. bar in 1996.

Peacock will be sworn in on Mar. 7.  She will be assigned to the Fraser region with chambers in New Westminster.

Peacock is a former Crown counsel in the Vancouver region. Prior to that, she worked as a sole practitioner and legal aid staff lawyer. She is bilingual and an active member of the B.C. Prosecution Services’ French prosecution group since 1996.

Peacock received her law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1993.

Sangha will be sworn in on Mar. 7. She will be assigned to the Office of the Chief Judge with chambers in Robson Square.

Sangha is a former civil litigator and partner at Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP. She specialises in insurance defence work, with particular focus on personal injury, occupier’s and product liability and employment and human rights.

Sangha earned her law degree from the University of Victoria in 1996. She was called to the bar in 1997.

“I wish to congratulate our newest colleagues on their appointments and welcome them to the Provincial Court of British Columbia,” Melissa Gillespie, B.C. Provincial Court chief judge, said.