Nigerian Woman, Dr. Chidinma Thompson, Becomes First Black Judge Of Canada’s King’s Bench, Calgary Judicial District
In a historic milestone, Dr. Chidinma Thompson, a woman of Nigerian heritage, has been appointed as the first black Justice from the Calgary judicial district on The Kings Court of the Bench in Canada, marking a significant achievement in the country’s legal landscape.
Canadian-Nigerian lawyer and politician, Kelechi “Kaycee” Madu announced the historical event in a good will message below.
The Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) also congratulated Dr. Chidinma on her groundbreaking appointment through a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday. The post highlighted her historic achievement, confirming that Dr. Chidinma became the first black judge from that district on Friday, February 16, 2024, in Calgary, Canada.
The post read: “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 significant new chapter began last October when she was sworn in as a Judge by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani.
Formerly a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Calgary, Dr. Chidinma Thompson was appointed as a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary, filling the position left vacant by Justice C.M. Jones. Justice Thompson’s appointment is part of a series of judicial appointments, which also include Honourable Alice Woolley, Honourable Kevin Feth, Ayla Akgungor, Jonathan Martin, and Darren Reed, all of whom have been appointed to various positions within the Alberta court system.
Dr. Chidinma Thompson’s historic appointment is not only a testament to her legal acumen and professional accomplishments but also a significant step forward in promoting diversity and representation within Canada’s judiciary.
