Judge Thomas Healey (right) poses with the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan James Plemel (left) in Melfort Provincial Court. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Judge Thomas Healey

Judge Thomas Healey: long-time Crown prosecutor officially sworn in as P.A. judge

Sep 20, 2019 | 5:55 PM

Melfort Provincial Court was filled to capacity, this time for a happy occasion.

Thomas Healey, the Ridgedale born and raised lawyer who spent 14 years as a Crown prosecutor in Melfort, was officially sworn in as a judge to the Provincial Court in Prince Albert.

“It still seems sort of surreal,” Healey said after the ceremony. “I’m still getting used to the idea. I was thankful to see so many people show up. It was great to see so many friends and neighbours.”

Healey gained prominence during his handling of the Jaskirat Sidhu case in Melfort early in 2019. He received a phone call from Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan in the summer if he wanted to accept a judge opening in Prince Albert.

“I accepted it very quickly,” Healey said. “There were a number of people Justice Morgan could have called. He had a number of good candidates throughout the province. I was just very thankful he called me and I am very appreciative.”

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Healey was officially appointed as a P.A. Provincial Court judge on Aug. 2 and has been sitting on the bench since around that time. He admitted it will be sad to leave the Melfort area, but noted he has multiple colleagues in P.A. whom he’s worked with for many years such as Judge Earl Kalenith and Judge Hugh Harradence.

Healey expects both those judges and others in the province to help him adjust to his new role.

“It’s going to take a little bit of getting used to,” he said. “Most of it will be in criminal law, and I’m thankful for that because I have some experience in that area that will help.

I’m sure some of the other judges will be getting a number of phone calls, or I’ll be bringing coffee to their office. I’m counting on them for advice and direction in the future.”

Healey will spend time as a judge in Prince Albert and Saskatoon Provincial Court until the end of October before he’ll serve in P.A. on a regular basis.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow