Albertans deserve to have confidence in their justice system and know it has the resources it needs to help protect them and their communities. Filling vacancies in the justice system will increase court capacity and ensure Albertans can resolve civil, criminal and family matters faster.

Justice Gordon Putnam has been appointed as the assistant chief justice for the Edmonton Region, Christine A. Palmer will serve as a justice for the Northern Region and Emem Madu will serve as a justice for the Edmonton Family and Youth Division. These appointments are in addition to the three assistant chief justices and nine new justices that were appointed in 2024.

“I have prioritized filling vacancies at the Alberta Court of Justice as part of my commitment to improve access to justice for Albertans. I am confident each of these appointees will serve Albertans well, and I congratulate them on their new roles.”

Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General

“The Alberta Court of Justice is pleased to welcome the new appointments, Christine Palmer and Emem Madu to the bench. Their experience and knowledge will benefit the court and Albertans as we strive to provide timely and effective access to justice.”

James Hunter, chief justice, Alberta Court of Justice

Judicial appointments

Justice Gordon Putnam received a bachelor of arts from the University of Alberta in 1987 and a juris doctor from the University of Alberta in 1991. He was appointed a judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta (as it was then called) June 1, 2022. Prior to his appointment, he worked as an associate lawyer for Thomas Walter & Company in Gibbons from 1992 to 1996 and then as a managing partner at Putnam Law LLP in Morinville from 1996 to 2022. His appointment as assistant chief justice for the Edmonton Region takes effect immediately.

Christine A. Palmer received a bachelor of laws from the University of Alberta in 2006. She has worked as a Crown prosecutor in Hinton since 2011. From 2006 to 2011, she was an articling student and associate at Reid Law Office in Drayton Valley. She volunteered and worked with Student Legal Services in Edmonton from 2003 to 2006. Her appointment to the Northern Region takes effect Jan. 20, 2025.

Emem Madu received a bachelor of laws from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 2002, a barrister at law from the Nigerian Law School in 2003 and a master of laws from the University of Alberta in 2007. She has worked as a sole practitioner since 2012, first at Laurier Law Office in Edmonton and at Tisel Law in Edmonton since 2013. She worked as a student-at-law at Wood Law in Edmonton from 2011 to 2012. She has also worked as a regulatory compliance specialist at ATB Financial, a policy and legislation analyst at Alberta Justice and a research lawyer at Brownlee LLP in Edmonton. Her appointment to the Edmonton Family and Youth Division takes effect Jan. 31, 2025.

Quick facts

  • Lawyers with at least 10 years at the bar can apply to become a justice with the Alberta Court of Justice.
  • Applications for justices are reviewed by the Alberta Judicial Council and Alberta Judicial Nominating Committee, and then recommended to the minister of justice and cabinet for appointment.
  • In April 2023, the Provincial Court of Alberta was renamed the Alberta Court of Justice.
  • In 2022, Alberta’s government created four new judicial positions in the Alberta Court of Justice, and three more judicial positions in 2023 for a total of 143 justice positions.

Related information

Related news