SUSAN Sangha is one of three new B.C. provincial court judges, the Ministry of Attorney General announced on Monday.

Her appointment will be effective March 7.

The others are:

* Ellen (Heidi) Hughes, effective March 14

* Michelle Peacock, effective March 7

Sangha holds a law degree from the University of Victoria, graduating in 1996 before being called to the B.C. bar in 1997. (1996-1997 Judicial Clerkship Supreme Court of British Columbia.)

She was a civil litigator and partner at Alexander Holburn where she has worked since finishing law school. Her practice area was insurance defence work, focusing on personal injury, occupier’s liability and product liability, as well as employment and human rights.

According to the Alexander Holburn website, “Susan … has a particular interest and expertise in alternative dispute resolution and has received formalized training in mediation, including at the Pepperdine University, School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.”

The Province said it 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.