Judicial Information

The Provincial Court of Alberta has 136 full-time equivalent Judges (some full time and some part time) as well as a number of Supernumerary Judges who serve when required. Judges in Edmonton and Calgary belong to specific divisions: Criminal, Family & Youth or Civil, but all Judges are qualified to hear cases in all areas of the law. There are 72 locations across the province where Provincial Court Judges hear matters. In smaller locations, the Court sits only on specific days of the week. Some Judges regularly sit in a particular city or town and other Judges travel between locations, but all Provincial Court Judges are able to sit at any location in Alberta.

In addition to Judges, the Court is served by more than 40 full time and part time Justices of the Peace.

The Chief Judge is the administrative head of the Court, and he is assisted by the Deputy Chief Judge and nine Assistant Chief Judges. The page Judges and Justices of the Peace has more information on the Court's Judges and Justices of the Peace.

  • Judicial Independence - Judges must be free, but obliged, to decide on their own.
  • Judicial Appointments - To be a Provincial Court Judge, you need to be a lawyer with at least 10 years of experience. Provincial Court Judges are appointed by the Alberta Minister of Justice from a list of approved candidates.
  • Judicial Education - The Judges of the Provincial Court of Alberta are committed to professional development and have many opportunities to advance their education and keep up to date with developments in law and in society. While Judges are individually responsible for their own education, the Court has Education Plans in place to guide the Judges and support them in their professional development.
  • Judicial Complaints - The Court has a process to hear complaints about Judges from lawyers or the public.

Further information on Judges of the Provincial Court is available in the Provincial Court Act. The Justice of the Peace Act and the Justice of the Peace Regulation set out the jurisdiction of the Justices of the Peace.