Saskatchewan Judicial Appointments Announced

OTTAWA, November 8, 2013 – The Honourable Peter MacKay, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Central Nova, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Jacelyn A. Ryan-Froslie, a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Saskatchewan, Family Law Division (Saskatoon), is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan to replace Madam Justice G.A. Smith (Regina), who retired on December 1, 2012.

Madam Justice Ryan-Froslie was appointed a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench in 2000.  She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1974 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1977, both from the University of Saskatchewan, and was admitted to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1978. She was a partner with Anderson & Company of Swift Current where she practised family law, civil litigation and mediation.

The Honourable Darin C. Chow, a judge with the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan in Yorkton is appointed a judge of Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench of Saskatchewan, Family Law Division, to replace Madam Justice D.L. Wilson (Regina), who was transferred to Saskatoon to replace Madam Justice M.E. Wright, who retired on August 31, 2013.

Mr. Justice Chow was appointed to the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan in 2012.  He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1991 and a Juris Doctor in 1994, both from the University of Saskatchewan.  He was admitted to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1995 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2008.

Mr. Justice Chow was a partner with Chow McLeod (formerly Chow & Company) from 1997 to 2012, where he practised criminal law, family law, administrative law, arbitration, civil litigation, and real estate law.  He was chairperson of the Moose Jaw Mental Health Review Panel and the Five Hills Health Region Review Panel from 2009 to 2012.  He was also a member of the province’s roster of labour arbitrators from 2009 to 2012 and chair of the Saskatchewan Police Commission in 2011. 

The Honourable Lyle W. Zuk, a lawyer with Wilcox Zuk Chovin Law Offices in Prince Albert, is appointed a judge of Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench of Saskatchewan to replace Mr. Justice R.D. Maher (Prince Albert), who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of August 5, 2013.

Mr. Justice Zuk obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan in 1980.  He was admitted to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1981 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2008.

Mr. Justice Zuk has been a partner with Wilcox Zuk Chovin Law Offices and predecessor firms since 1994. He has been in private practice since his call to the bar.  His practice areas were civil litigation, family law, corporate law, and wills and estates.

Mr. Justice Zuk was a member of the Canadian Bar Association and president of the Prince Albert Bar Association from 1982 to 1985.  He has been a certified mediator since 1989 and a member of Mediation Saskatchewan since 1995.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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