The Saskatchewan government introduced legislation Tuesday to create a new classification of associate judges within the Court of King’s Bench, a move intended to tackle mounting caseloads and streamline the province’s legal system.
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The King’s Bench Amendment Act, 2026, will allow for the appointment of an initial roster of four associate judges. These judges will take over specific civil and family law matters, freeing up Court of King’s Bench justices to focus on complex criminal trials and high-priority cases.
“We have been working with government to add associate judges to the Court of King’s Bench for some time now,” Chief Justice M.D. Popescul said in a statement, noting the change will have a significant impact on the court’s ability to manage its increasing workload.
The associate judges will hold office until the age of 70. The new legislation also establishes a compensation commission and a complaint review council to oversee the positions, paralleling existing frameworks in other Saskatchewan courts.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said the tier of supportive judges brings Saskatchewan in line with judicial structures in other Canadian provinces.
“This legislation will help address the higher caseloads we are seeing in our courts, increase capacity at the Court of King’s Bench, and improve access to justice for the people of Saskatchewan,” McLeod said.
The government expects to begin filling the four new positions once the legislation is brought into force later this year.
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