Thinking Ahead: Why you might want to consider a career as a Provincial Court Judge!

Chief Judge Melissa Gillespie was born and grew up in Calgary, Alberta. She obtained a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 1985, an LLB from the University of Toronto in 1989, and was called to the BC bar in 1991. For more than 20 years Chief Judge Gillespie served as Crown counsel in the Fraser region of British Columbia, working primarily in Surrey and New Westminster. In 2005 she became Regional Crown Counsel, and in 2009 she was appointed King’s Counsel. 

Chief Judge Gillespie was appointed to the Provincial Court in 2012, sat in Surrey and the Fraser Valley, and was appointed an Associate Chief Judge of the Provincial Court in 2016, Acting Chief Judge on May 7, 2018, and Chief Judge on October 19, 2018. 

For many years she represented the Court on the board of directors of the BC Justice Education Society (JES). From 2015 through 2021 she worked with JES to provide ongoing education and training to police, prosecutors, and magistrates to strengthen the justice system of Guyana. In 2021 she joined the board of Access Pro Bono, a charitable organization using volunteers to provide access to justice around BC. 

Chief Judge Gillespie also served on the BC Provincial Court Judges’ Association executive and participated in a number of Court committees including the Criminal Law Committee. She is a member of and Chair of the Canadian Council of Chief Judges and a member of the National Judicial Institute's Board of Governors. 

In addition, she has been involved in providing education for members of the judicial and legal communities including programs hosted by the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Trial Lawyers Association, the Advocates Society, Canadian Bar Association, National Judicial Institute, New Judges training, and the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice. 

Associate Chief Judge Sue Wishart obtained a Masters of Science degree from Queen’s University in 1990, followed by a law degree from the University of Victoria in 1994. She was called to the BC Bar in 1995. Her work as a lawyer was mainly in the area of criminal defence law. During her time as a lawyer Associate Chief Judge Wishart was active in the Canadian Bar Association. She chaired the Victoria criminal law section, was an elected member of Provincial Council, and an elected member of the Executive of the CBA - BC Branch. 

Judge Wishart was appointed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia in March of 2009, serving Victoria, Duncan and the Western Communities. In November of 2014 she was elected president of the Provincial Court Judges’ Association and in that capacity served as a member of Judicial Council for the year 2015. 

Judge Wishart was appointed Associate Chief Judge on May 15, 2016 for a two-year term, re-appointed May 15, 2018 for a three-year term, and re-appointed May 15, 2021 and May 15, 2024 for a further three-year term. As Associate Chief Judge, she serves on various committees including access to justice initiatives, court technology and business intelligence. She has participated in the development and implementation of changes to the Small Claims Rules and the Provincial Court Family and Child, Family and Community Service Act Rules. She is also involved with the specialized courts across the province and serves as Alternate Presiding Member of the Judicial Council of British Columbia.