Kamloops lawyer appointed as new Justice for Supreme Court

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops lawyer has been appointed to the role of a Judge for the Supreme Court and will be based in Kamloops.

Justice Bradford F. Smith, K.C. had been working as a sole practitioner in Kamloops until the appointment today (Jun. 1). He replaces Justice S.D. Dley of Kamloops, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective November 1, 2021.

Justice Smith was born in South Africa and moved to Canada at the age of 20. He attended Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto and earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1999. He earned a Masters in Criminal Law and Procedure in 2009. He was called to the B.C. bar in 2000.

Working out of Vancouver, Justice Smith spent 13 years as a federal prosecutor. His practice included the prosecution of clandestine synthetic drug labs, complex drug conspiracies, and organized criminal groups. In 2013, he left the Crown and established his own defence practice, eventually moving to Kamloops in 2015. He was appointed King’s Counsel in 2019.

Justice Smith has volunteered on the Organizing Committee of the Kamloops Inns of Court Program and at Thompson Rivers University, Faculty of Law for several years. He has also served on the Boards of the Association of Legal Aid Lawyers and the Overlander Ski Club.

In announcing the appointment Thursday (Jun. 1), David Lametti, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada said, “I wish Justice Smith every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve British Columbians well as a member of the Supreme Court of British Columbia.”