Ritu Khullar, the chief justice of the NWT’s appeal court, has passed away at the age of 62.
Ritu was also the chief justice of Alberta and chief justice of the Alberta and Nunavut appeal courts. She died on September 3 surrounded by family, according to a statement published by the Court of Appeal of Alberta.
Born in Fort Vermilion, Alberta to parents who had immigrated from India, she initially focused on constitutional, human rights and labour law. She had been Alberta’s chief justice since 2022.
“As a judge, I think it is crucial to not lose sight of the real-life impact of the litigation and the decisions we make,” she once wrote.
“I have always wanted to care about the work I do and have been lucky to have interesting, challenging, and meaningful work throughout my career. It has been a wonderful journey.”
She was “deeply dedicated to public service and improving the administration of justice in Alberta and in the North,” Alberta’s appeal court said. She has been described as the first woman of South Asian descent to become a provincial chief justice.
Richard Wagner, Canada’s chief justice, called Ritu a “dedicated and deeply respected jurist” whose passing “comes far too soon.”
“Her legacy of wisdom, compassion, diligence, and exemplary leadership will continue to inspire those who follow,” Wagner wrote.
