Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment in the province of Manitoba

From: Department of Justice Canada

News release

October 15, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada  

The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

Kelli L. Potter, Partner at Patersons LLP in Brandon, is appointed a Judge of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba (Family Division) in Winnipeg. Justice Potter replaces Justice M.A. Thomson (Winnipeg), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective September 2, 2024.

Quote

“I wish Justice Potter every success as she takes on her new role. I am confident she will serve Manitobans well as a member of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba”.

—The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Biography

Justice Kelli L. Potter grew up as the fourth generation on her family’s farm in Dauphin, Manitoba. She received her Bachelor of Arts (Conflict Resolution Studies) from the University of Winnipeg, before pursuing her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Manitoba. She was called to the Manitoba Bar in 2005.

Justice Potter started her legal career in Winnipeg. She then relocated to Southwest Manitoba and joined Patersons LLP in Brandon as an associate, becoming a partner in 2019. Throughout her career, she has practiced predominantly in the area of family law, appearing in all levels of Court in Manitoba.

Justice Potter has been a presenter on various family law topics for Continuing Professional Education through the Manitoba Bar Association and the Law Society of Manitoba. Additionally, she has been a guest speaker at the University of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, and Assiniboine Community College on topics related to family law, access to justice issues, alternative dispute resolution, and legal ethics. Active in the legal profession, she was a Life Council Member of the Manitoba Bar Association. She has also served as a Bencher for the Law Society of Manitoba, an Executive member of the Manitoba Bar Association Family Subsection, and as a past President of the Western Manitoba Bar Association. She was an active volunteer with a variety of sports and arts organizations.

Justice Potter and her husband, Ryan, have four children and two grandchildren.

Quick facts

  • The Government of Canada has appointed more than 780 judges since November 2015. This includes 156 appointments since the Honourable Arif Virani became Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on July 26, 2023, a pace of appointments that has no precedent in Canadian History. These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens Canada. Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of racialized persons, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, and those who self-identify as having a disability.

  • To support the needs of the courts and improve access to justice for all Canadians, the Government of Canada is committed to increasing the capacity of superior courts. Budget 2022 provides for 22 new judicial positions, along with two associate judges at the Tax Court of Canada. Along with the 13 positions created under Budget 2021, this makes a total of 37 newly created superior court positions. Since Budget 2017, the government has funded 116 new judicial positions.

  • Changes to the Questionnaire for Federal Judicial Appointments were announced in September 2022. The questionnaire continues to provide for a robust and thorough assessment of candidates but has been streamlined and updated to incorporate, among other things, more respectful and inclusive language for individuals to self-identify diversity characteristics. 

  • Federal judicial appointments are made by the Governor General, acting on the advice of the federal Cabinet and recommendations from the Minister of Justice.

  • The Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented.

  • Significant reforms to the role and structure of the Judicial Advisory Committees, aimed at enhancing the independence and transparency of the process, were announced on October 20, 2016

  • The Government of Canada is committed to promoting a justice system in which sexual assault matters are decided fairly, without the influence of myths and stereotypes, and in which survivors are treated with dignity and compassion. Changes to the Judges Act and Criminal Code that came into force on May 6, 2021, mean that in order to be eligible for appointment to a provincial superior court, candidates must agree to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context, which includes systemic racism and systemic discrimination. The new legislation enhances the transparency of decisions by amending the Criminal Code to require that judges provide written reasons, or enter them into the record, when deciding sexual assault matters.

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Chantalle Aubertin
Deputy Director, Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General
613-992-6568
Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207
media@justice.gc.ca

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