Territorial Court, the statutory court of
record, is similar to provincial courts in
other jurisdictions and has such
jurisdiction as expressly provided by
federal and territorial legislation.
The judges of the Territorial Court are
appointed by the Commissioner of the
Northwest Territories, in Executive-Council,
upon the recommendation of a Judicial
Appointments Advisory Committee, which is
composed of representatives of the public,
the legal profession, and the judiciary.
Judges may sit in Yellowknife, where the
principal offices of the Court are located,
or the appointment may specify some other
location where a judge is to reside. The
general supervision and direction of the
Court is the responsibility of the Chief
Judge, who is appointed from among the
resident judges for a five-year term.
The current resident judges of the
Territorial Court are:
- The Honourable Chief Judge Robert D. Gorin
- The Honourable Judge Bernadette E. Schmaltz
- The Honourable Judge Christine Gagnon
The
Territorial Court, as a trial court, hears
the majority of criminal cases that come
into the court system. It holds preliminary
hearings and non-jury trials in communities
throughout the Northwest Territories,
visiting them regularly on regional
circuits. When on circuit, the judges work
in close consultation with community justice
committees and other community
representatives. The Court also has
jurisdiction over all summary conviction
offences created by federal and territorial
statutes (such as environmental offences,
motor vehicle and highway safety
infractions, and breaches of municipal
by-laws). It hears cases involving child
protection, custody and support. In
addition, it has jurisdiction to hear civil
cases where the monetary amount in dispute
does not exceed $10,000.
The judges of the Court are assisted from
time to time by deputy judges who are
appointed by the Commissioner from among
current or retired territorial and
provincial court judges. In addition, all
resident judges of the Supreme Court of the
Northwest Territories are also ex officio
judges of the Territorial Court.
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