Alberta Justices Issue Rare Statement Amid Premier's Comments on Judicial Authority
Three Alberta chief justices defend judicial independence after premier hints at directing judges.
On Tuesday, Jan 30 2026, Alberta’s three chief justices—acting Chief Justice Dawn Pentelechuk (Alberta Court), Kent Davison (Court of King’s Bench), and James Hunter (Court of Justice)—issued a joint statement affirming the independence and separation of powers in the province. The message came just days after Premier Danielle Smith said on a Saturday radio show she ‘wishes she could direct the judges’ and later wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney about selecting King’s Bench judges. The justices warned that judicial independence protects the public by ensuring decisions are made solely on law and evidence, and urged each branch to respect the others. Smith’s comments sparked responses from the press secretary, law scholars, and NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, who decried the premier’s remarks as an attack on the rule of law.
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