After practicing law for more than 20 years, Sabena Thompson has been appointed as one of two new B.C. provincial court judges.
Thompson began her career in 100 Mile House with a private law firm, noted the ministry of attorney general in a news release, noting there she did civil litigation, criminal defence and family law.
She joined B.C. Prosecution Service as Crown counsel in Williams Lake in 2005 doing criminal law.
Throughout her time there she was administrative Crown for Williams Lake, Indigenous Court Crown counsel.
More recently she has been deputy regional Crown counsel in the Northern region of B.C. working closely with many Indigenous communities.
Thompson has assisted in the development of Indigenous sentencing courts.
Her appointment as judge goes into effect April 15, 2024.
Mandy Klein is the other newly appointed judge, effective April 29, 2024.
Klein has been working in the East Kootenays with Crown Counsel in Cranbrook and also worked with Indigenous leadership to develop ways to bring the community’s voice to the court process there.
To be considered for the role of judge, interested lawyers apply and the Judicial Council of B.C. reviews the candidates.
The council is a statutory body made up of the chief judge, an associate chief judge, other judges, lawyers and members from outside the legal profession.
Recommendations for potential judges go to the attorney general, with the final appointment made through a cabinet order-in-council.
Although judges and judicial justices are located in a judicial region, many leverage technology such as video-conferencing for court proceedings, and travel regularly throughout the province to meet changing demands.
READ MORE: New location eyed for Indigenous Court in Williams Lake
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