Some politicians speak about federally appointed judges as though they are outsiders imposed on Alberta by Ottawa. This is simply not true. 

All judges serving in Alberta were first members of Alberta's legal community. Before becoming judges, they practiced law in this province, represented Albertans, and built their careers here. Whether appointed by the provincial or federal government, Alberta judges are Albertans serving Albertans.

Judges of different courts are appointed by different levels of government. Judges of the Alberta Court of Justice, which handles the vast majority of cases, are appointed by the Alberta government. Judges of the Court of King's Bench and the Court of Appeal of Alberta are appointed by the federal government.

But regardless of who signs the appointment, the judges themselves come from Alberta's legal profession and serve the people of Alberta.

Federal judges are vetted by Albertans 

Federally appointed judges are not selected at the personal whim of a Prime Minister. 

In Alberta, judges of the Court of King’s Bench and Court of Appeal are selected by a committee made up of other Albertans. This committee includes representatives from Alberta’s judiciary, the legal profession, and both the provincial and federal governments.  

The committee carefully assesses each applicant's qualifications, professional competence, integrity, and suitability for judicial office. Candidates are then evaluated and recommended based on merit. Only after that review process does the federal government make an appointment.

The suggestion that Alberta's federally appointed judges are merely "Trudeau judges" or "Harper judges" ignores the rigorous process used to select them. These judges are experienced Alberta lawyers who have been vetted by Albertans and chosen because of their qualifications, not their politics.

Alberta's federally appointed judges are not Ottawa's judges. They are Alberta lawyers, vetted by Albertans, serving Albertans.