The Honourable Rochelle Wempe and the Honourable Michael J. Morris have been appointed to the Court of King’s Bench.
Justice Rochelle Wempe is appointed to Court of King’s Bench Saskatoon, replacing Justice R.W. Elson, who elected to become a supernumerary judge. At the time of her appointment to the bench, Justice Wempe was in-house legal counsel at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan.
Justice Wempe was called to the Saskatchewan bar in 2002. She articled and spent the first years of her law career with the Department of Justice Canada and then the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. In 2012, she accepted a position as a Senior Crown Prosecutor with Provincial Prosecutions where she handled complex Criminal Code prosecutions throughout Saskatchewan. Justice Wempe developed expertise in trauma informed approaches to sexual violence and represented complainants in sexual assault trials. She also contributed to initiatives aimed at promoting access to justice, including volunteering at the inner-city legal clinic (CLASSIC). As a Bencher with the Law Society of Saskatchewan, she acted as a hearing adjudicator and served on various committees.
Justice Michael J. Morris is appointed to Court of King’s Bench Regina, replacing Justice M.D. Tochor, who was elevated to the position of Associate Chief Justice. At the time of his appointment to the bench, Justice Morris was Chairperson of the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board.
Justice Morris was called to the bar in Saskatchewan in 2004. He clerked with the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal before beginning his career in private practice, focusing on litigation. In 2008, he joined Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Justice and worked as a Crown Prosecutor for several years. He joined the Ministry’s Civil Law Branch in 2011 and was employed as Senior Crown Counsel prior to being appointed as the Director of Litigation in 2014. He was appointed King’s Counsel in 2018. Justice Morris has presented on litigation and advocacy-related topics to different groups during his career. He served as President of the Rotary Club of Regina South and Chairperson of Rotary District 5550’s Global Grants Committee.
Read the Judicial Appointment news release: Department of Justice Canada
