Government of Yukon
News archives
FOR RELEASE #08-036
February 21, 2008
Yukon Government Appoints Territorial Court Judge
WHITEHORSE – The Yukon government announced today the appointment of Michael Cozens as the third judge of the Territorial Court of Yukon.
“Our government is pleased to appoint this highly qualified person to the Territorial Court,” Justice Minister Marian Horne said.
Judge Cozens graduated from Dalhousie Law School in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1992. Since 2003, he was a crown prosecutor with the Federal Prosecution Service in Whitehorse. Prior to working as a crown prosecutor, he practiced law with a Whitehorse firm in a diverse practice, including family and civil law.
“Judge Cozens brings a strong work ethic and has a well-rounded background and range of experience that will serve the Territorial Court well,” Horne added.
Mr. Cozens was the successful candidate in a selection process set out in the Territorial Court Act. The Judicial Council seeks potential candidates and submits this list to the Minister of Justice. The Judicial Council is made up of representatives from the Yukon Supreme Court, the Territorial Court, First Nations, lawyers, and lay people.
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(Below biography and photo)
| Contact: | |
| Roxanne Vallevand Communications Advisor (867) 633-7949 roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca |
Chris Beacom Communications, Justice (867) 393-7081 chris.beacom@gov.yk.ca |
Judge Michael Cozens
Bio
Mr. Cozens graduated from high school in Calgary Alberta. From there he worked variously a postal carrier, an assistant pastor and as a journeyman electrician.
Mr. Cozens began taking night school courses at the University of Lethbridge and eventually was accepted into the Dalhousie Law School in 1989.
Mr. Cozens articled with the Federal Department of Justice in Edmonton Alberta and was called to the bar in Alberta in 1993. Mr. Cozens was called to the Yukon Bar in 1994, and was subsequently called the Bar in British Columbia later that year. Mr. Cozens was called to the NWT bar in 2006.
From 1994 to 2002 Mr. Cozens joined the firm Preston, Willis and Lackowicz where he practiced in the areas of family law, criminal law, bylaw prosecutions for the City of Whitehorse, civil litigation, human rights law and small claims court proceedings among others.
In 2003, Mr. Cozens joined the Federal Prosecution Service in Whitehorse, primarily as a criminal prosecutor with respect to Federal Statutes. Mr. Cozens has also worked as one of the specialized prosecutors in the Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court as well as for the Community Wellness Court.
