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The Nunavut Court of Justice (NUCJ; Inuktitut: ᓄᓇᕘᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔨᒃᑯᑦ, Nunavuumi Iqkaqtuijikkut; Inuinnaqtun: Nunavunmi Maligaliuqtiit, French: Cour de justice du Nunavut) is the superior court and territorial court of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. It is administered from the Nunavut Justice Centre (Building #510) in Iqaluit.
| Nunavut Court of Justice | |
|---|---|
 Arms of the Court of Justice | |
| Established | 1999 |
| Jurisdiction |  Nunavut |
| Location | Iqaluit |
| Composition method | Appointed by the federal government |
| Authorised by | Government of Canada by Nunavut Act, 1993 |
| Appeals to | Nunavut Court of Appeal |
| Number of positions | 6[1] |
| Website | http://www.nunavutcourts.ca/index.php/nunavut-court-of-justice |
| Chief Justice | |
| Currently | Mr Justice Neil Sharkey |
| Since | 2016 |
It was established on April 1, 1999 as Canada's only "unified" or single-level court with the consent of Canada, the Office of the Interim Commissioner of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Inuit Land Claims representative organization. Prior to the establishment of Nunavut as a separate territory justice was administered through two courts, the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories and the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.[2]
Besides court proceedings in Iqaluit the judges travel as a circuit court to communities throughout the territory to conduct cases.
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Current judges
| Position | Name | Appointed | Short History | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice | Andrew Mahar[3] | March 2012 | Clinic Director in Kitikmeot, Defence Counsel | Resigned, now a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Solo Practitioner (2001 to 2012) Legal Aid (1994 to 1997) |
| Justice | Earl Johnson | 2002 | Senior Legal Counsel, Northwest Territories Department of Justice (Yellowknife) appointed in 2003 to support growing work of the Court, largely engaged in civil cases | Retired |
| Chief Justice | Neil Sharkey [4] | December 2008 | Legal Director at Maliiganik Tukisiniakvik (Iqaluit - 1986), first judge called to the bench from the Nunavut Bar, appellate practice, Justice of the Peace Administrator (1999) | Active |
| Justice | Susan Cooper | December 2009 | Law Clerk to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Partner with law firm Chandler & Cooper | Active |
| Justice | Bonnie M. Tulloch[3] | March 2012 | Special Advisor on northern issues, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Legal Aid Executive Director (Gjoa Haven) and Kivalliq Legal Aid Director (Rankin Inlet), Director of Akitsiraq Law School Society | Active |
| Justice | Paul Bychok | December 2015 | Crown Prosecutor | Active |
| Justice | Susan Charlesworth[5] | June 2018 | Criminal defence lawyer, defence counsel at Maliganik Tukisiniarvik Legal Services | Active |
| Justice | Christian Lyons[5] | June 2018 | Crown Prosecutor, defence counsel with legal aid in Iqaluit | Active |
Past Judges
| Position | Name | Appointed | Short History | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Judge | Robert Kilpatrick | October 2009 1999 |
Appointed at the creation of Nunavut in 1999, Administrative Crown Counsel, (British Columbia), Legal Counsel in Inuvik and Whitehorse |
Retired |
| Senior Judge | Beverley Browne | 1993 - 2009 | originally a Territorial Court Judge in pre-division Northwest Territories, made Senior judge in 1999 on the creation of Nunavut, strong supporter of the Akitsiraq Law School program, leader in music education (Iqaluit Music Society), church organist (St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral) and responsible for the integration of Inuit elders into functions in the Nunavut Courts. | Resigned, sitting on the Alberta Bench. Died on March 24, 2021.[6] |
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