Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s Justice Minister Mickey Amery has welcomed the federal government’s appointment of Thomas Rothwell to the Alberta Court of Appeal and Malcolm Lavoie to the Court of King’s Bench, highlighting their legal backgrounds and experience within the province’s justice system.
In a statement released on Friday, Amery congratulated both appointees and said their professional experience and contributions to Alberta’s legal institutions would be valuable in their new roles.
Rothwell brings experience at both the provincial and federal levels. Before joining the Court of King’s Bench in 2020, he served as a law clerk to Supreme Court of Canada Justice J.C. Major and worked as assistant deputy minister of the Legal Services Division at Alberta Justice. His latest appointment will see him move to the province’s Court of Appeal.
Lavoie, meanwhile, was appointed deputy minister of Justice and deputy attorney general of Alberta in 2024. He has also represented parties in several cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, according to the minister’s statement.
Province Seeks Greater Role in Judicial Appointments
Amery also addressed the process used to appoint judges to Alberta’s superior courts, welcoming what he described as a willingness by the federal government to work more closely with the province.
He said the recent appointments could provide an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the two levels of government on future judicial selections.
The Alberta government has maintained that provincial participation in judicial appointments should be expanded, arguing that the courts should reflect the communities and population they serve. Amery said greater provincial involvement could help reinforce public confidence in the justice system.
Under Canada’s constitutional framework, the federal government appoints judges to provincial superior courts and courts of appeal. Alberta’s latest comments indicate that the province wants a more substantial role in discussions surrounding future appointments.
Government Signals Continued Consultation
Amery said the provincial government intends to continue working with federal officials on judicial appointments while seeking feedback from Albertans about how the process should evolve.
The statement did not outline specific changes to the appointment system or provide details of any new agreement between the two governments.
For now, the appointments of Rothwell and Lavoie mark the latest developments in Alberta’s judiciary, alongside an ongoing discussion about the province’s participation in selecting judges for its superior courts.
