Jennifer Cloxton-Voczko, right, has been appointed as a judge to the Provincial Court in Melfort. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By northeastNOW Staff

New Provincial Court Judges

New provincial court judge in Melfort, Meadow Lake

Jul 31, 2023 | 10:26 AM

A new judge has been appointed in Melfort, filling a vacancy created by the transfer of Judge Inez Cardinal to Saskatoon.

Jennifer Claxton-Viczko will don the judge’s robes following a career in criminal law and courtwork, working in Humboldt and for Legal Aid in Prince Albert.

“These judges are highly-regarded and qualified, hard-working, and committed to the communities where they will serve,” Minister of Justice and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said in a news release.

Judge Claxton-Viczko graduated from the law program at the University of Saskatoon in 2001 and articled with Behiel, Munkler and Will in Humboldt.

She was called to the bar in 2002.

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In 2004, Claxton-Viczko started working for Legal Aid in Prince Albert but quickly changed to become a Crown prosecutor the same year.

Becoming a senior Crown prosecutor in 2009, she stayed there for years before transferring to Saskatoon in 2013 to pursue specialized prosecution, such as gang-related crimes.

Claxton-Viczko has mentored many Crown prosecutors and in her personal life, has coached minor ball and volunteers at the St. Laszlo Community Association.

In the same series of appointments, three other lawyers have become provincial court judges.

In Meadow Lake, Judge Kim Armstrong, K.C. will take a bench spot made vacant by moving of Judge Michael Tomka to Swift Current.

Armstrong also graduated from the University of Saskatoon’s College of Law, but in 2000 and was called to the bar a year later after articling with Stephens Arnot Barristers and Solicitors in Prince Albert.

From there, she moved to the Prince Albert Legal Aid office in 2002 then transferred to the Saskatoon office where she later became the acting legal director.

Armstrong has focused her career on criminal law and has extensive experience in bail hearings, criminal trials, therapeutic courts and has represented young offenders.

Along with being president of the Saskatoon Community Mediation Services, she mentors at the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education.

She became a King’s counsel in 2022 and was given a Queen’s platinum jubilee medal this year.

Armstrong is known to the Friends of the Prince Albert National Park and the Big Brothers Big Sisters in Lloydminster.

She has also been an active volunteer in gymnastics and was a judge for Gymnastics Saskatchewan.

The other appointments include David Chow, K.C., to the provincial court in Moose Jaw to fill a vacancy left by Judge Daryl Rayner, who will be transferring to Regin and Darren Howarth has been appointed to the Provincial Court in Saskatoon.