Leonard Marchand. (Photo via BC Court of Appeal)

A colleague of B.C.’s newest top judge is suggesting that Leonard Marchand’s appointment as the new Chief Justice of British Columbia is a great move by Ottawa.

Kamloops lawyer Bill Sundhu, himself a former provincial court judge, says Marchand will face some challenges in his new role.

“There are also a number of vacancies which have not been filled by the Federal Government on the BC Supreme Court so they have a shortage of judicial appointments, and so there are some extra challenges to get cases and trials heard in the meaningful time, and he’ll have to grapple with that,” Sundhu said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week that Leonard Marchand – son of former Kamloops MP Len Marchand – will replace former B.C. Chief Justice Robert J. Bauman, who retired earlier this year.

“By virtue of him not being a Lower Mainland person, I think it will bring that broader experience of the rest of the province and be mindful of that,” Sundhu added. “I mean simple things like in some remote communities or smaller communities just transportation you know…getting to court.”

Marchand, who was most recently sitting as a judge on the B.C. Court of Appeal, is a former Kamloops lawyer who has worked closely with Indigenous groups trying to settle claims for residential school survivors.

Sundhu says he’s confident that Marchand will approach his new role with balance.

“We put our personal biases aside and we must adjudicate cases according to the evidence, and as I said, as the Chief Justice, a lot of his time will be taken up by on administrative matters,” Sundhu said.

Marchand also served as a judge on the Provincial Court of British Columbia in Kamloops between 2013 and 2017, when he was appointed to the BC Supreme Court.

A member of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, Marchand is the first Indigenous person to be appointed as Chief Justice in B.C. He will also serve as Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of Yukon.

“The Honourable Leonard Marchand is a highly respected member of British Columbia and Canada’s legal community,” Prime Minster Justin Trudeau said, in a statement. “As he takes on his new role…I wish him continued success.”

“I know he brings a wealth of experience to the position and will continue to serve the people of British Columbia and the Yukon well.”