Ritu Khullar appointed chief justice of Alberta, N.W.T., Nunavut
A woman who was born in a small community east of Edmonton as a first-generation Canadian was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday as Alberta's new chief justice.
Ritu Khullar fills the position that became vacant this summer after longtime chief justice Catherine Fraser retired.
Khullar will serve as the Chief Justice of Alberta of the Court of Appeal, in addition to serving in the same capacity for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
"I wish the Honourable Ritu Khullar every success as she takes on her new role," Trudeau said in a statement. "She is a respected member of the legal community and brings a wealth of experience in multiple areas of law to the bench.
"I am confident Chief Justice Khullar will be a great asset to the people of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut."
Chief justices are appointed by the governor general on the advice of the federal cabinet and the recommendation of the prime minister.
Khullar's family immigrated from India. She was born in Fort Vermilion, Alta., and grew up in Morinville, just north of the capital city. She attended the University of Alberta, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with honours.
She studied law at the University of Toronto and clerked at the Alberta Court of Appeal and Queen's Bench before going into private practice with Chivers Greckol & Kanee.
While there, she focused on labour and employment, privacy, administrative, human rights, and constitutional law, becoming a managing partner for eight years.
Khullar was appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in 2017 and elevated to the appeal court one year later.
"The opportunity to serve the people of Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in this way is an enormous privilege and responsibility to which I am wholly committed," Khullar said in a statement.
"I am forever grateful to live in Canada where the values of respect, equality and fairness are deeply embedded and where any individual can flourish."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.