In the life of a British Commonwealth lawyer there are few honours greater than being named Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.).
The centuries-old tradition recognizes an outstanding legal career, community service and the individual’s status as a senior member of the profession.
In Saskatchewan, appointments are made by the Justice Minister based on recommendations by a committee comprising the Justice Minister and Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal or Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench (on an alternating basis) and the past presidents of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Saskatchewan.
Appointees must live in Saskatchewan and must have practiced law for at least ten years in the superior courts of any province or territory of Canada, the United Kingdom or Ireland.
On December 18, David Rusnak, a partner with the Yorkton firm Rusnak Balacko Kachur & Rusnak was among 15 Saskatchewan lawyers appointed Queen’s Counsel.
David Rusnak was admitted to the bar in 1982 after completing his education at the University of Saskatchewan in 1981. He has a general law practice with a significant focus on litigation, criminal defence work, corporate/commercial, personal injury and family law. He also represents the Federal Crown as a prosecutor.
This year, he was also elected to a three-year term as a Law Society of Saskatchewan “Bencher,” a member of the Society’s Board of Directors.
Rusnak’s commitment to the community is amply demonstrated by various including serving as a member of the Yorkton Public School Board, as chair of the Yorkton Regional High School Board, as president of the Yorkton Rotary Club, as secretary for the Parkland Shrine and as a board member for the Westview United Church.
He has also contributed to the legal profession as a lecturer at the Parkland College, instructing a second year business law class for the past eight years, as a lecturer at the Gabriel Dumont Institute and a presenter at numerous seminars for the advancement of legal education in Yorkton and area.
With his appointment as Q.C., David Rusnak joins his brother Wayne Rusnak, who was designated Q.C. in 2004.
