As Canadians, we rely on the impartial decisions of our courts to uphold our laws, settle disputes and ensure justice is served.

In Alberta, there are three courts that administer criminal law: the Court of Appeal of Alberta, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and the Provincial Court of Alberta. Other courts that administer laws in Alberta include the Federal Court of Canada, Trial and Appeal Divisions.

The federal government appoints judges to the Court of Appeal, the Court of Queen’s Bench and the Federal Court, while the Government of Alberta appoints Provincial Court judges.

The legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judiciary make up the three branches of government in Alberta. The judiciary is the independent branch that presides over the courts.

The judiciary’s independence from the other branches of government helps to preserve the impartiality of judges. Without the impartiality of judges, there is no promise of real justice.

Judicial independence is a cornerstone of our justice system. It guarantees that judges will make decisions free of influence and based solely on the facts of a case and the law.

A number of institutions foster judicial independence in Canada, notably the Canadian Judicial Council, the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs, and the National Judicial Institute. These institutions help maintain a distance between the government and the judiciary concerning issues like pay and benefits and continuing education for judges.

This article is part of the Government of Alberta's commitment to help inform Albertans about the justice system. For further information visit http://www.gov.ab.ca/, or contact us for more information by phone (780) 427-8530 (dial 310-0000 toll free anywhere in Alberta), or by e-mail at PLE.Coordinator@gov.ab.ca.