Justice minister announces new appointments to BC courts: Peter Edelmann and Scott Morishita

Justice Morishita served as president of the Canadian Bar Association’s BC Branch for the 2023-24 term.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani, has announced two judicial appointments in British Columbia.

Peter H. Edelmann has been appointed as a justice of appeal of the Court of Appeal in Vancouver, and Scott Morishita has been appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, also in Vancouver.

Justice Edelmann is bilingual and holds degrees in both common and civil law from McGill University. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2019 after a career specializing in criminal defence, immigration, and refugee law.

Justice Morishita was born and raised in Richmond and is a Japanese Canadian member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and a law degree from the University of Victoria.

Before his appointment, he served as associate counsel at Rice Harbut Elliott LLP, representing plaintiffs in personal injury claims. He previously worked as legal counsel at the Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia, defending local governments against liability claims.

Justice Morishita served as president of the Canadian Bar Association’s BC Branch for the 2023-24 term. He was involved with numerous legal organizations, including the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC and the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (BC).

“I wish Justices Edelmann and Morishita every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve the people of British Columbia well as members of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Supreme Court of British Columbia,” said Minister Virani.