At Government House in Regina on April 6, fourteen lawyers from Saskatchewan received the King’s Counsel (K.C.) title.
“These are the main Ruler’s Direction assignments in the territory starting around 1952, when Her Late Grandness Sovereign Elizabeth II rose the Privileged position,” Equity Pastor and Principal legal officer Bronwyn Eyre said. ” My sincere congratulations go out to these 2022 recipients.”
In the late 1500s, Queen Elizabeth I created the title “Queen’s Counsel.” They personally represented the Queen, and were originally referred to as the “Queen’s learned counsel.” During the Elizabethan era, Sir Francis Bacon was the first person appointed by the Q.C. When Lord James I came to the Lofty position in 1603, Bacon was affirmed as a Ruler’s Direction, the main formal K.C. arrangement.
With Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension in 1952, King’s Counsel became Queen’s Counsel. With King Charles III’s accession in September 2022, the title changed once more. Initially, King’s or Queen’s Counsel only served the Crown and did not oppose it in any way. In time, the position ceased to be anything more than an honorary recognition of Bar leaders.
Every year, about 15 new members of the Bar are appointed in Saskatchewan. There were 2,087 members of the Saskatchewan Bar as of 2021. This honor is bestowed on no more than 1% of Bar members annually.
The attorneys perceived today for their commitments to the lawful calling and public help in Saskatchewan are:
- Kim Marie Armstrong, Saskatchewan Legal Aid, Saskatoon. Admitted to the bar 2001.
- Roger Vincent DeCorby, Director of the High Risk Violent Offender Unit, Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Regina. Admitted to the bar 1992.
- Megan Denise Dolo, VP Law, Farm Credit Canada, Regina. Admitted to the bar 2002.
- Richard James Fyfe, Constitutional Law Branch, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Regina. Admitted to the bar 2002.
- Caroline Marie Katherine Gorsalitz, Legal VP, Cameco, Saskatoon. Admitted to the bar 1986.
- Kathy Lee Hodgson-Smith, Hodgson-Smith Law, Saskatoon and Meadow Lake. Admitted to the bar 2009.
- Leanne Mae Lang, Civil Law Division, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Regina. Admitted to the bar 1991.
- Jana Marie Linner, MLT Aikins LLP, Regina. Admitted to the bar 2009.
- Scott Robert Moffat, Moffat & Company, Weyburn. Admitted to the bar 1998.
- Jason Wayne Mohrbutter, MLT Aikins LLP, Regina. Admitted to the bar 2001.
- Curtis John Onishenko, McKercher LLP, Saskatoon. Admitted to the bar in 2002.
- Brian Roderick Pfefferle, Pfefferle Law, Saskatoon. Admitted to the bar in 2008.
- Roger Kevin Sobotkiewicz, Chief Executive Officer, Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority, Regina. Admitted to the bar in 1998.
- Ian Allerdyce Sutherland, McDougall Gauley LLP, Saskatoon. Admitted to the bar in 1988.
The recommendations of a selection committee consisting of the Saskatchewan Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench or the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan, as well as past presidents of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Bar Association and Law Society of Saskatchewan, are used to make appointments to the King’s Counsel.
Candidates must be residents of Saskatchewan and have practiced law in any province or territory of Canada, the United Kingdom, or Ireland for at least ten years.
In December 2022, the individuals honored today were first appointed as King’s Counsel.
