Claudine Longboat-White is one of 45 new Justices of the Peace announced by the province of Ontario last week.
The Six Nations woman was appointed Jan. 29 and will be the justice of the peace for Sioux Lookout.
Longboat-White (Yontaterihwathe’t) is of the Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation, Turtle Clan from Six Nations.
Most recently Longboat-White was the Circle of Care Senior Coordinator at Ga Naa Na Ga Da Waa Ba Dang Kenora Justice Centre.
Previously, she was a principal at Kaa’Naa’Matay Wiigiiam Teaching Lodge and prior to that, Longboat-White held many other positions at the Niigaanning Bimaadiziwin Child and Youth Developmental Services with the Kenora Chiefs Advisory, ranging from manager to director and family systems navigator.
Justice of the Peace Longboat-White has also volunteered at several organizations such as Keewatin Public School and Kenora Anishinaabe Kweg Aboriginal Women’s Organization.
There are over 325 justices of the peace in Ontario that are assigned to and perform judicial responsibilities. Both provincial court judges and justices of the peace compose the Ontario Court of Justice, one of Ontario’s two trial courts.
Respecting criminal law, justices of the peace preside over virtually all judicial interim release (bail) hearings in the province and the majority of criminal remand courts. They also preside over other criminal hearings. They receive informations (the document which commences a criminal proceeding), confirm or consider the issuance of process by either a summons or a warrant and are responsible for receiving and considering the denial or issuance of search warrants and other matters of criminal process.
Justices of the peace exercise jurisdiction over the majority of provincial regulatory offences and municipal by-law prosecutions. As in criminal proceedings, justices of the peace receive informations and warrant applications, consider the issuance of process and preside at hearings and trials.
Justices of the peace come from various professional backgrounds.
