Dr. Chidinma Thompson, a woman of Nigerian heritage, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first Nigerian Justice appointed to Canada’s prestigious Kings Court of the Bench. The announcement was made in a statement shared by the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on X (formerly Twitter).
According to the post, Dr. Chidinma’s historic appointment was confirmed on Friday, February 16, 2024, in Calgary, Canada. The post celebrated her achievement, stating: “Yesterday, February 16, 2024, in Calgary, Canada, Nigeria made history again. Our own Dr. Mrs. Chidinma Thompson (@CbThompsonyyc ), a Nigerian born Canadian, became the first black Honorable Justice of the Kings Court of the Bench Canada.”
Dr. Chidinma’s journey to this groundbreaking role began last October when she was sworn in as a Judge by Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Arif Virani. Previously, she served as a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Calgary.
Her appointment to the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary fills the vacancy left by Justice C.M. Jones, who transitioned to become a supernumerary judge effective November 11, 2022.
Dr. Chidinma Thompson’s appointment is part of a larger cohort of distinguished legal professionals appointed to various judicial positions, including Honourable Alice Woolley, Honourable Kevin Feth, Ayla Akgungor, Jonathan Martin, and Darren Reed, reflecting Canada’s commitment to diversity and inclusion within its judiciary.
