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The Supreme Court of the Northwest
Territories is a superior court of record
and has jurisdiction in all civil and
criminal matters arising in the Territories,
except those expressly excluded by statute.
The Court is composed of up to four judges,
resident in Yellowknife, with the senior
judge, by date of appointment, having
overall responsibility for its
administration. The judges of the Court are
also, by virtue of their office, ex officio
judges of the superior courts of Yukon and
Nunavut. Similarly, the judges of those
courts are ex officio judges of the Supreme
Court of the Northwest Territories. In
addition, there are a number of deputy
judges appointed from the superior courts of
provinces who are available to assist with
the Court's work. All judges are appointed
by the Governor-in-Council.
The current resident judges of the Supreme
Court are:
- The Honourable Justice John Z. Vertes,
Senior Judge
- The Honourable Justice J. Edward Richard
- The Honourable Justice Virginia A. Schuler
- The Honourable Justice Louise
A.M. Charbonneau
- The Honourable Justice Donald M. Cooper
The Supreme Court is based in Yellowknife
but travels on circuit to other communities
throughout the Northwest Territories to hear
civil and serious criminal cases, with or
without a jury. It also exercises powers of
judicial review over decisions of
Territorial boards and tribunals. It
exercises appellate jurisdiction in summary
conviction criminal cases heard by the
Territorial Court and the Justices of the
Peace, as well as other types of cases where
appeals are provided by statute. The Court
also has jurisdiction over divorce, probate
and estate administration matters. Appeals
from decisions of the Supreme Court are
heard by the Court of Appeal for the
Northwest Territories.
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