North

Committee comes up with short list of Nunavut judge candidates

Nunavut is a step closer to having more judges appointed to the territory after a candidate vetting committee met for the first time in four years.

List now goes to federal Minister of Justice for final selection

A courtroom at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit. The territory is currently short one resident judge and a second is due to retire this year. (Nick Murray/CBC)

Nunavut is getting closer to having more judges appointed to the territory after a candidate vetting committee met for the first time in four years.

Last week, the committee charged with vetting candidates submitted their recommendations to the federal justice minister. It was the first time the committee had met in four years largely because it couldn't reach quorum until last August.

Of the nearly 15 candidates who were vetted last week, fewer than 10 made the cut. 

Nunavut's senior judge Robert Kilpatrick has previously stressed the need for more judicial appointments to the territory. In December, he warned that circuit courts could be cancelled because of a lack of judges.

The Nunavut Court of Justice has six seats for resident judges. One is currently vacant due to the retirement of Justice Earl Johnson. Kilpatrick is set to retire this year.