The roles and authority of all judges and justices (judicial justices, justices of the peace and judicial case managers) of the Provincial Court are distinct and well-defined.
The head of the Provincial Court is the Chief Judge, who is its official spokesperson. The Chief Judge is responsible for the judicial administration of the Provincial Court, with assistance from Associate Chief Judges, Regional Administrative Judges, Administrative Judicial Justices, and personnel in the Office of the Chief Judge.
Under section 11 of the Provincial Court Act, the Chief Judge has the power and duty to supervise judges and justices. This includes the power to:
- designate the case or matter, or class of cases or matters, in which a judge or justice is to act;
- designate the court facility where a judge or justice is to act;
- assign a judge or justice to the duties the Chief Judge considers advisable;
- look into complaints about the conduct of judges or justices; and
- exercise the other powers and perform other duties prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
The Chief Judge also supervises the Office of the Chief Judge staff and judicial administrative assistants, administers a budget, and facilitates continuing education for all judges and justices. As well the Chief Judge is the chair of the Judicial Council.
Former Chief Judges have helped shape the duties and underscore the prominence of the Chief Judge's position, and all have contributed to the current structure and administration of the Court.
The Court's daily work of deciding matters in a full and fair manner is carried out by its judges or justices. Judges make decisions in all areas in which the court has jurisdiction. Judicial justices preside over a limited range of matters in court and also perform duties at the Justice Centre. Judicial case managers handle trial scheduling and initial court appearances. Justices of the peace work in the court registries as Court Services justices of the peace.