Judicial Council

  • About the Judicial Council
  • Apply to be a member
  • Current members

  1. About the Judicial Council

    Mandate:

    • to make recommendations to the Minister respecting appointments of judges and justices;
    • subject to Part 5 of the Act, to deal with complaints respecting judges and justices;
    • to make recommendations to the Minister and the chief judge on any matters that it considers necessary respecting the efficiency, uniformity, or quality of judicial services;
    • to report to the Minister and the chief judge respecting proposals for improving the judicial services of the court or on any other matters that may be referred to it by the Minister;
    • after consulting with the chief judge and the Minister, to consider and recommend any judicial training that in its opinion may reasonably be necessary;
    • to serve in an educational capacity, in any manner it sees fit;
    • for the better consideration of justice issues of concern to the community, to establish working committees to consider reform and improvements in the areas of family and young offenders matters and criminal, and civil laws, and to make recommendations on these areas to the council. The membership of these committees shall be in the discretion of the council, but the council shall attempt to include representatives of all interested groups on these committees;
    • at the request of the supervising judge, to consider whether a change of residence or occupation of a justice merits the dismissal of the justice;
    • at the request of the supervising judge, to assess whether or not justices have satisfactorily completed training opportunities offered by the court or whether or not justices have engaged in behaviour inconsistent with the due administration of justice and, if it considers advisable, to refer its concerns about a justice to a tribunal; and
    • to perform any other duties that it may be requested to perform by the Minister or the chief judge.
    • Authority: Territorial Court Act, section 30
    • Type: advisory
    • Appointment process: Order-In-Council
    • Requirements: No legislated criteria required to join.
    • Term: Not exceeding 3 years. May be nominated for further terms.
    • Meetings: approximately 4 times per year
    • Department: Justice
    • Honoraria: $125 per day

  2. Apply to be a member

    Any resident of the Yukon is eligible to apply to serve on a government board or committee.

    Apply

    1. Complete the application.
    2. Prepare a brief resume. This should include information relevant for sitting on the board or committee.
    3. Submit your completed application and resume.
      In person: Inquiry Desk at 2071 Second Avenue in Whitehorse. We are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Address your envelope "Attention: Boards and Committees Secretariat (CM-1)"
      Email: boards.committees@yukon.ca
      Mail:
      Government of Yukon
      Boards and Committees Secretariat (CM-1)
      Box 2703
      Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

    How members are selected

    Members are appointed by a Minister, Cabinet or the Legislative Assembly.

    School board and school council members can be elected or, in some cases, appointed.

    Appointments to these boards are based on standing committee recommendations:

    • Yukon Development Corporation
    • Yukon Energy Corporation
    • Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board
    • Yukon Lottery Commission
    • Yukon Recreation Advisory Committee
    • Yukon Arts Advisory Council
    • Yukon Utilities Board
    • Yukon Council on the Economy and the Environment
    • Yukon Human Rights Commission


    Some boards and committees members are required to hold certain professional qualifications or affiliations.


  3. Current members
    • (Benjamin) Bruce Warnsby, member from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2025
    • Christine Lambert, member from November 17, 2022, to November 16, 2025
    • Gina Nagano, member from January 27, 2022, to January 26, 2025
    • Iris Proctor, member from April 25, 2022, to April 24, 2025
    • Judge Michael Cozens, member from July 7, 2023, to July 2, 2026
    • Justice Suzanne Duncan, member from April 25, 2022, to April 24, 2025
    • Katherine Mercier, member from March 31, 2021, to March 30, 2024
    • Leo Lane, member from April 25, 2022, to April 24, 2025

Contact 

For questions about the Judicial Council phone 867-667-5438, or fax 867-393-6400, or toll free in the Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5438.