Dear Judge Henry,
The Aboriginal Lawyers Forum write to express our sincere congratulations to you on your appointment to the Provincial Court of British Columbia.
Your appointment is well-deserved and celebrated by Indigenous lawyers and the broader public in British Columbia. Your decades of work for both victims and accused in the criminal justice system have built to the momentous occasion.
We raise our hands to honour you, and to thank you for stepping forward to this prestigious position of selfless public service. Since your call to the BC bar in 1996, you have been a zealous advocate for justice, from your time as a defense counsel to your time at the BC Province Crown’s office starting in 2017. Throughout your career you have used your voice to advocate for Indigenous people and particularly note your efforts and work on with the Crown Counsel’s Resource Group and the Crown’s annual Gathering events. We are also grateful for your contributions and participation in the ALF, as you have been a friend and mentor to many Indigenous lawyers. We fondly remember you as one of the participants at the first ever ALF Retreat in Chase BC in 2012 and are grateful for your continued participation and support.
Every Indigenous voice added to the Court is of benefit to society as a whole. We hope that one day soon you will be able to share your experiences with the next generations of Indigenous lawyers and future jurists at an ALF event!
Congratulations James!
Sincerely,
Aboriginal Lawyers Forum
Per:
Christian J. Cook, K.C.
Co-Chair
Martin Bühler
Co-Chair