Jurisdiction & Governance

Court of King's Bench Vision and Mission

Vision

A leader in innovative, responsive and accessible justice.

Mission

To provide an impartial forum for the just and proportional resolution of legal disputes, to preserve the Rule of Law and to protect the rights and dignity of all.

Key Publications and Documents

2022-2027 Court of King's Bench of Alberta Strategic Plan

The 2022-2027 Strategic Plan sets out the strategic issues and goals, as identified by the justices, applications judges and judicial staff. The goals outlined in this plan will guide the organizational efforts of the Court for the next five (5) years.

Memorandum of Understanding

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed in January of 2017, sets out the respective roles of the Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench and the Attorney General of the province, and the terms under which they have agreed to work together for the administration of justice in Alberta.

Jurisdiction of the Court

The Court of King's Bench is constituted by the Court of King's Bench Act, which provides for a Chief Justice and 2 Associate Chief Justices of the Court of King's Bench and 65 other justices, as well as for supernumerary justices. The Act also provides for the appointment of Applications Judges in Chambers, who are judicial officers with the authority to hear and determine certain applications to the Court, as set out in the Act and a Notice to Profession issued by the Court (Notice to the Profession & Public - Court Applications and Masters Jurisdiction - 2015-07). Sections 16.1 to 18 of the Act provide for the appointment of case management officers, and all other officers and employees that the business of the Court requires.

It is the responsibility, purpose and constitutional obligation of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta to administer justice and the rule of law in the Province of Alberta in criminal matters, civil proceedings (including family and surrogate proceedings) and in the judicial review of government action in Alberta.

The Court of King's Bench of Alberta is a superior court of criminal jurisdiction, with the power to try any indictable offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. The Court of King's Bench generally only tries the most serious criminal offences, including murder, manslaughter, and drug trafficking, or conspiracy to commit one of these offences.

The Court of King's Bench of Alberta also hears civil proceedings, including commercial matters, personal injury, bankruptcy and insolvency cases, and litigation involving wills and estates and dependent adults. The Court also hears appeals from the Alberta Court of Justice in respect of civil cases under $100,000.

The Court of King's Bench of Alberta has sole jurisdiction over divorce and the division of property in the Province of Alberta, and presides over matters involving child and spousal support and child custody and access.

As a court of inherent jurisdiction, the Court of King's Bench of Alberta also functions as the primary forum for judicial review of government action in Alberta and hears statutory appeals from the decisions of certain provincial administrative tribunals.

The legislation enforced by the Court includes all Federal and Provincial legislation which does not limit jurisdiction to another court or tribunal.

The Court of King's Bench is constituted by the Court of King's Bench Act, which provides for a Chief Justice and 2 Associate Chief Justices of the Court of King's Bench and 65 other justices, as well as for supernumerary justices. The Act also provides for the appointment of Applications Judges, who are judicial officers with the authority to hear and determine certain applications to the Court, as set out in the Act and a Notice to Profession issued by the Court (NP 2015-07). Sections 16.1 to 18 of the Act provide for the appointment of case management officers, and all other officers and employees that the business of the Court requires.