Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island

The Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island (also called the Prince Edward Island Supreme Court, and abbreviated as PESC) is the superior court of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.

The Court is composed of five judges, led by its Chief Justice, currently Jacqueline R. Matheson. The Supreme Court derives its jurisdiction from Prince Edward Island's Judicature Act, enacted in its current form in 2008.

History and functions

Prior to 2008 reforms that were formally implemented in 2009, the superior court in Prince Edward Island was the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island (Trial Division).[1] With the passage of the Judicature Act, the Supreme Court was stripped of its corresponding Appeal Division, now assigned to the newly created Court of Appeal of Prince Edward Island, while the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island remained as a single-division superior court. All former justices of the Supreme Court (Trial Division) became justices of the Supreme Court.

Pursuant to the Constitution Act, 1867, the Supreme Court is operated by the provincial government, while its justices are appointed by the Governor General of Canada, on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada. Section 96 of the Constitution Act has traditionally been interpreted as supplying the Supreme Court with inherent jurisdiction.[2]

The Supreme Court sits in Georgetown, Summerside, and the provincial capital of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. It deals with pre-trial matters and hears trials dealing with such cases as family matters, estate and probate, as well as indictable criminal matters, which can be heard with or without a jury. It also hears applications for judicial reviews concerning the decisions of tribunals with the Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island.

Current judges

Position Name Appointed Supernumerary Nominated by Position prior to appointment
Chief Justice Tracey L. Clements 2017 Justin Trudeau Lawyer at Stewart McKelvey
Justice Nancy L. Key 2013 Stephen Harper Lawyer at McInnes Cooper
Justice Terri MacPherson 2017 Justin Trudeau
Justice James Gormley 2017 Justin Trudeau
Justice Gregory Cann 2018 Justin Trudeau Lawyer at Cox & Palmer
Supernumerary Justice Jacqueline R. Matheson 2004 (as Chief)
1988		 2017 Paul Martin (as Chief)
Brian Mulroney		 Justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island (Trial Division)
Supernumerary Justice Wayne D. Cheverie 2001 2016 Jean Chrétien Chairman of the Prince Edward Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission
Supernumerary Justice Gordon L. Campbell 2001 2018 Jean Chrétien Lawyer at Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales

References

  1. ↑ Act to overhaul higher courts in P.E.I. comes into effect, The Guardian, 17 January 2009.
  2. ↑ Baxter Student Housing Ltd. et al. v. College Housing Co-operative Ltd. et al., [1976] 2 SCR 475.

See also


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