Naheed Bardai, Rochelle Wempe, Michael Morris appointed to Saskatchewan courts

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani, announced the appointment of Naheed Bardai as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Saskatchewan and Rochelle Wempe and Michael J. Morris as judges of the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan.

Naheed Bardai, who was initially appointed to the Court of King’s Bench for Saskatchewan in 2020, is a graduate of social sciences and law from the University of Ottawa. He was called to the Ontario bar in 2001 and the Saskatchewan bar in 2004. Fluent in both French and English, Bardai's extensive litigation experience spans multiple provinces, including Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Before his initial judicial appointment to the bench, he was a partner at MLT Aikins LLP in their civil litigation group. He had also previously practiced with the Ottawa law firm of Nelligan O’Brien Payne. Bardai had also served as president of the Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association and contributed to numerous legal seminars and community groups.

Rochelle Wempe, appointed to the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, completed her law degree at the University of Saskatchewan and was called to the bar in 2002. After earning a master’s degree at Osgoode Hall Law School, she garnered significant experience with the Department of Justice Canada and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada before transitioning to the Ministry of Justice Saskatchewan and, later, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan. She is an expert in trauma-informed approaches to sexual violence and professional regulation.

Michael J. Morris has been appointed to the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan in Regina. Born and raised in Regina, Morris graduated with great distinction from the University of Saskatchewan's law school. He earned a Master of Laws in Public International Law from the University of Melbourne on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. His career began with a clerkship at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, followed by roles in both private practice and various capacities within Saskatchewan's Ministry of Justice, culminating in his appointment as chairperson of the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board in 2023. Morris, a recognized King’s Counsel since 2018, has a rich history of legal presentations and community service through Rotary International.

“I wish Justices Bardai, Wempe, and Morris every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve the people of Saskatchewan well as members of the Court of Appeal and the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan,” Minister Virani said.