Sixteen Saskatchewan lawyers were recently honoured with Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) appointments.
"These exceptional recipients being honoured with a Queen's Counsel designation have a range of experience and represent the very best of our legal community," Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. "In recent years, there has been a desire to expand the Q.C. honours, which have traditionally focused on barristers, to recognize solicitors, corporate counsel and those who have contributed to the legal profession in the courtroom."
A selection committee of Saskatchewan's Justice Minister and Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan or the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench (on an alternating basis), and past presidents of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Saskatchewan makes these recommendations. Individuals must meet the following criteria: they must live in Saskatchewan and must have practiced law for at least 10 years in the superior courts of any province or territory of Canada, the United Kingdom or Ireland.
The first Queen's Counsel appointment in British North America was in 1815; however, the practice dates back to 1594 when Queen Elizabeth I appointed Sir Francis Bacon as her exclusive legal advisor and roving representative of the Crown.
The 2011 Queen's Counsel appointments included Ronald Balacko, a lawyer with Rusnak Balacko Kachur & Rusnak law firm in Yorkton. He was admitted to the bar in 1976.
