New judge assigned to Yorkton

The retirement of a Saskatoon Queen's Bench judge has led to a shakeup on the Yorkton bench.

Leaving the Yorkton circuit is the Honourable Darin C. Chow, who has served the provincial court in the area since May 2012. Chow was promoted to Mr. Justice at Queen's Bench, Family Law Division in Regina to replace Madam Justice D.L. Wilson who was transferred to Saskatoon to replace Madam Justice M.E. Wright, who retired on August 31.

The appointment was announced November 8 by Peter MacKay, federal minister of justice and attorney general.

Last week, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice announced Patrick Reis would replace Chow in Yorkton.

For 27 years, Reis was a Legal Aid lawyer in Regina.

"Judge Reis has been practicing law in Saskatchewan for nearly 30 years," said Gordon Wyant Saskatchewan justice minister and attorney general. "His experience in criminal and family law in rural and urban settings will be an asset to the judiciary in our province."

In 2008, both Chow and Reis were designated Queen's Counsel, an honourary title given annually to members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and contribution.