The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the new judicial application process announced on October 20, 2016.
The new process emphasizes transparency, merit, and diversity, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
The Honourable Leonard "Len" Marchand, Jr., a judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia, is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Kelowna. He replaces Madam Justice A.J. Beams, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective November 27, 2016.
Palbinder Kaur Shergill, Q.C., a sole practitioner with Shergill & Company, is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in New Westminster. She replaces Madam Justice E.A. Arnold-Bailey, who retired effective May 31, 2017.
Michael J. Brundrett, Crown counsel with the Ministry of Justice of British Columbia, is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver. He replaces Madam Justice W.J. Harris, who resigned effective April 30, 2017.
Biography
Prior to her appointment to the bench, Justice Palbinder Kaur Shergill practised as a lawyer and mediator with her law firm, Shergill & Company, Trial Lawyers.
She has extensive trial and appellate experience and has appeared before courts and tribunals across Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Justice Shergill was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2012 and is a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for Community Service. Regarded as a leading human rights advocate, she has been instrumental in helping shape human rights and religious accommodation law in Canada through her pro bono work as General Legal Counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada.
Justice Shergill was born in Punjab, India, and immigrated to Canada with her family at the age of four. She grew up in Williams Lake, BC, and received her law degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Called to the British Columbia Bar in 1991, she has held leadership positions both within and outside the legal community. She has been involved with the Cabinet of Canadians, the Trial Lawyers Association of BC, and the Canadian Bar Association.
From 2002 to 2008, Justice Shergill served on the Board of Directors of the Fraser Health Authority, the largest health region in the province.
Justice Shergill volunteers as a high school debate coach, plays the tabla and harmonium, and is kicking her way towards a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She is fluent in English and Punjabi, has a conversational knowledge of Hindi, and is aspiring towards fluency in French. She lives in Surrey with her husband, daughter, and twin sons.
