The Government of British Columbia has appointed three Provincial Court judges to help ensure timely and efficient access to justice.
The new judges are:
- Micah Rankin (effective Feb. 4, 2026)
- Charles Hutchinson (effective Feb. 5, 2026)
- Jodi Michaels (effective Feb. 11, 2026)
Micah Rankin
Rankin will be assigned by the judiciary to Victoria. Rankin, appointed King’s Counsel in 2023, has more than 18 years of legal experience, having served as chair of the board of directors of Access Pro Bono and as pro bono counsel for several organizations, including the BC Civil Liberties Association. In 2011, Rankin was a founding member of Thompson Rivers University’s faculty of law, returning to practice in 2018 with the Ministry of Attorney General, before transitioning to the BC Prosecution Service’s Criminal Appeals and Special Prosecutions Unit in 2020.
Charles Hutchinson
Hutchinson, who will be assigned by the judiciary to Prince George, brings more than 12 years of legal experience. Since 2017, Hutchinson has served as a local agent for Legal Aid BC in the Vanderhoof and Fort St. James area, overseeing intake services and working and travelling throughout northern BC. Upon being called to the bar in 2013, Hutchinson opened a private practice in Prince George, focused on criminal defence, family law, and child protection matters.
Jodi Michaels
Michaels will be assigned by the judiciary to Dawson Creek. Michaels brings more than 13 years of legal experience across criminal, family, and civil litigation. After being called to the bar in 2012, Michaels opened a practice handling criminal defence, family litigation, and parents’ counsel work, as well as a broad range of civil matters, including civil forfeiture proceedings, ICBC plaintiff litigation, and residential tenancy and property disputes. Upon joining the BC Prosecution Service in 2022, Michaels has served as a Crown prosecutor. In recognition of leadership and professional contributions, Michaels was awarded the Northern Region Leadership Award at the annual Crown Conference in May 2024.
For more information, see this media release.
