The Nunavut Court of Justice (NUCJ; , Nunavuumi Iqkaqtuijikkut; Inuinnaqtun: Nunavunmi Maligaliuqtiit, ) is the superior court and territorial court of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. It is administered from the Nunavut Justice Centre (Building #510) in Iqaluit.
It was established on April 1, 1999 as Canada's only "unified" or single-level court with the consent of Canada, the Office of the Interim Commissioner of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Inuit Land Claims representative organization. Prior to the establishment of Nunavut as a separate territory justice was administered through two courts, the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories and the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.Nunavut Court of Justice: About the Nunavut Court of Justice
Besides court proceedings in Iqaluit the judges travel as a circuit court to communities throughout the territory to conduct cases.
Judges Current judges Position Name Appointed Short HistoryCurrent StatusJusticeAndrew MaharMarch 2012Clinic Director in Kitikmeot, Defence CounselResigned, now a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Solo Practitioner (2001 to 2012) Legal Aid (1994 to 1997)JusticeEarl Johnson 2002Senior Legal Counsel, Northwest Territories Department of Justice (Yellowknife) appointed in 2003 to support growing work of the Court, largely engaged in civil casesRetiredChief JusticeNeil Sharkey December 2008Legal Director at Maliiganik Tukisiniakvik (Iqaluit - 1986), first judge called to the bench from the Nunavut Bar, appellate practice, Justice of the Peace Administrator (1999)ActiveJusticeSusan CooperDecember 2009Law Clerk to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Partner with law firm Chandler & CooperActiveJusticeBonnie M. TullochMarch 2012Special Advisor on northern issues, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Legal Aid Executive Director (Gjoa Haven) and Kivalliq Legal Aid Director (Rankin Inlet), Director of Akitsiraq Law School SocietyActiveJusticePaul BychokDecember 2015Crown ProsecutorActiveJusticeSusan CharlesworthJune 2018Criminal defence lawyer, defence counsel at Maliganik Tukisiniarvik Legal ServicesActiveJusticeChristian LyonsJune 2018Crown Prosecutor, defence counsel with legal aid in IqaluitActive
Past Judges Position Name Appointed Short HistoryCurrent StatusSenior Judge Robert KilpatrickOctober 2009 1999 Appointed at the creation of Nunavut in 1999, Administrative Crown Counsel, (British Columbia), Legal Counsel in Inuvik and WhitehorseRetiredSenior JudgeBeverley Browne1993 - 2009 originally a Territorial Court Judge in pre-division Northwest Territories, made Senior judge in 1999 on the creation of Nunavut, strong supporter of the Akitsiraq Law School program, leader in music education (Iqaluit Music Society), church organist (St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral) and responsible for the integration of Inuit elders into functions in the Nunavut Courts. Resigned, sitting on the Alberta Bench. Died on March 24, 2021.
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