New chief justice appointed to Alberta Court of Justice

The Voice of Canada News:

Justice James A. Hunter has been appointed chief justice of the Alberta Court of Justice effective Sept. 01. 2023

The chief justice’s role in the Alberta Court of Justice is to manage the court in the interest of the public while ensuring the efficient administration of justice. The individual is recommended for appointment by the minister of justice from a list of qualified candidates provided by the chief justice selection panel.

Chief Justice Hunter is appointed for a seven-year term. He takes over from outgoing Chief Justice Derek G. Redman, who will continue to sit as a justice in southern Alberta.

“Congratulations to Chief Justice Hunter on his appointment. His experience has served Albertans well. I am confident that Chief Justice Hunter will be a strong leader for the courts. On behalf of the government and Albertans, I want to thank Chief Justice Redman for his commitment to serving Alberta. We wish him well as he continues to serve as a sitting justice in southern Alberta.”-Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice

Justice Hunter graduated from the University of Alberta law school in 1988 and became a partner at the firm of Grant, Alton, Hunter in Stettler. He started his own practice in 2001, where he worked until his appointment to the Alberta Court of Justice in 2009. In 2014, Justice Hunter was named assistant chief justice before he was assigned to oversee the Justice of the Peace Program in 2021. Some of Justice Hunter’s responsibilities in this role included working to help secure judicial appointments, addressing concerns raised by justices and improving the effectiveness of the courts.