Nunavut Justice Earl Johnson retires after 13 years on bench

After 13 years behind the bench, Nunavut Justice Earl Johnson is retiring.

A retirement ceremony was held at the Nunavut Justice Centre Friday to honour Johnson.

He has spent 42 years in the North. He started out inYellowknife as a lawyer andwas a law clerk with the N.W.T.'s legislative assembly the first time it sat in Iqaluit in 1981.

"It was held at the high school when they debated the first principles that eventually led to the creation of Nunavut," Johnson says.

In 2002, he became Nunavut's third judge.

During his career Johnson has travelled across the territory. He says he's seen many social problems, but very few hardened criminals.

"Many of the accused that are appearing in front of us are victims themselves and have not been treated for the trauma that they've received," Johnson says.

"Resources should be put in at the community level to try and deal with the trauma before it gets to court, like preventative medicine."

Johnson says that could savea lot of time and money.

He has mixed feelings about leaving this part of his life behind, but Johnson says he has big plans for his retirement.He and his wife are going toreturn home to New Brunswick to be closeto their family.

Johnsondoes plan to return to Nunavut from time to timethough, to serve as a deputy judge.