Nigerian Woman Appointed As First Black Judge In Canada's Kings Court

A woman of Nigerian lineage, Dr Chidinma Thompson, has been appointed as the first black Justice of The Kings Court Of the Bench In Canada.

A post on X by the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Saturday confirmed Dr Chidinma’s appointment.

The post said Dr Chidinma became the first black judge on Friday.

The post reads: “Yesterday, February 16, 2024, in Calgary, Canada, Nigeria made history again. Our own Dr. Mrs. Chidinma Thompson (@CbThompsonyyc ), a Nigerian born Canadian, became the first black Honorable Justice of the Kings Court of the Bench Canada.”

Last October, there was news about how Chidinma was sworn in as a Judge by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani.

Thompson, a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Calgary, was appointed a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary to replace Justice C.M. Jones (Calgary), who was elected to become a supernumerary judge effective November 11, 2022.

Appointed along with Justice Thompson include Honourable Alice Woolley, a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, appointed a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Alberta in Calgary; Honourable Kevin Feth, a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, appointed a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Alberta in Edmonton; Ayla Akgungor, Partner at Field LLP in Edmonton, appointed a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Edmonton; Jonathan Martin, Chief Federal Prosecutor at the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in Edmonton, appointed a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Edmonton; and Darren Reed, Partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP in Calgary, appointed a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary.