Leonard Marchand named new chief justice of British Columbia

Leonard Marchand has been appointed as the new chief justice of the B.C. and Yukon Courts of Appeal in what the B.C. attorney general calls “a historic appointment.”

Marchand is from the Syilx Okanagan Nation and is the first Indigenous person to be appointed as chief justice in the province.

Marchand was appointed to the role Friday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma says Marchand has consistently demonstrated a commitment to upholding the principles of “fairness, integrity and the rule of law.”

Prior to his appointment, Marchand was a judge of the Provincial Court of B.C. from 2013 to 2017, and in 2021 was appointed to the B.C. Court of Appeal.

He replaces former B.C. chief justice Robert J. Bauman, who retired in October.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2023.