Committee comes up with short list of Nunavut judge candidates

Nunavut is getting closer to having more judgesappointed to the territory after a candidate vetting committee met for the first time in four years.

• Choosing judges in Canada

• Nunavutcircuit courts could be cancelled without more judges

Last week, the committee charged with vetting candidates submitted their recommendations to the federal justice minister.It was the first time the committee had met in four yearslargely because it couldn't reach quorum until last August.

Of the nearly 15 candidates who were vetted last week, fewer than 10 made the cut.

Nunavut'ssenior judge RobertKilpatrickhaspreviously stressed the need for more judicial appointments to the territory. In December, he warned that circuit courtscould be cancelled because of a lack of judges.

TheNunavutCourt of Justicehas six seats for resident judges. One is currentlyvacant due to the retirement of Justice Earl Johnson.Kilpatrickis set to retire this year.