An Indo-Canadian lawyer is among the three new provincial court judge appointments by the BC Government. Sangha holds a law degree from the University of Victoria, graduating in 1996 before being called to the B.C. bar in 1997. She was a civil litigator and partner at Alexander Holburn where she has worked since finishing law school. Her practice area was insurance defense work, focusing on personal injury, occupier's liability and product liability, as well as employment and human rights.

By Muskaan Dhillon

VICTORIA – An Indo-Canadian lawyer is among the three new provincial court judge appointments by the BC Government.

The three new judges being appointed are:

* Ellen (Heidi) Hughes, effective March 14, 2022;

* Michelle Peacock, effective March 7, 2022; and

* Susan Sangha, effective March 7, 2022.

Sangha holds a law degree from the University of Victoria, graduating in 1996 before being called to the B.C. bar in 1997. She was a civil litigator and partner at Alexander Holburn where she has worked since finishing law school. Her practice area was insurance defense work, focusing on personal injury, occupier's liability and product liability, as well as employment and human rights.

The Province is committed to promoting fair access to justice for all residents of B.C. These appointment decisions consider multiple factors, including the needs of the court, the diversity of the bench and the candidates' areas of expertise.

Quick Facts:

* The process to appoint judges involves the following steps:

* Interested lawyers apply and the Judicial Council of B.C. reviews the candidates. The council is a statutory body made up of the chief judge, an associate chief judge, other judges, lawyers and members from outside the legal profession.

* The council recommends potential judges to the attorney general, with the final appointment made through a cabinet order-in-council.

• Although judicial officers may be assigned to a judicial region, many travel regularly throughout the province to meet changing demands.