British Columbia has appointed Colleen Spier as a Provincial Court judge to address mounting case backlogs at the Nanaimo courthouse, effective July 7.
Spier, who most recently served as assistant deputy minister of the Indigenous justice secretariat at the Ministry of Attorney General, will help reduce court delays in the Vancouver Island community. The appointment comes as the provincial government works to expand access to justice services across B.C.
Legal background and experience
A 2007 graduate of the University of British Columbia faculty of law, Spier brings extensive experience in family law, child protection and mediation to the bench. She previously worked as a judicial clerk in the Provincial Court’s externship program and has been involved with Indigenous justice initiatives, including Indigenous sentencing courts.
Her legal career has earned recognition through several awards, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025, a King’s Counsel designation in 2023 and the Susanna Jani award for excellence in mediation in 2022.
Judicial appointment process
The appointment follows a structured selection process overseen by the Judicial Council of B.C., a statutory body that includes the chief judge, associate chief judge, other judges, lawyers and non-legal professionals. The council reviews applications from interested lawyers and recommends candidates to the Attorney General, with final appointments made through cabinet order-in-council.
Addressing court pressures
The new appointment reflects the government’s response to increased demands on the justice system. Provincial Court judges regularly travel throughout B.C. and use technology such as videoconferencing to manage changing caseloads and improve access to court services.
Judicial appointments consider factors including court requirements, judicial diversity and candidates’ areas of expertise as the province works to enhance justice system capacity.
