Section 12 — Federal Courts Act: Associate judges

The Governor in Council may appoint as associate judges of the Federal Court any fit and proper persons who are barristers or advocates in a province and who are, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, necessary for the efficient performance of the work of that court that, under the Rules, is to be performed by them. The Governor in Council may, by regulation, fix the number of associate judges that may be appointed under subsection (1). For each office of associate judge of the Federal Court, there is an additional office of supernumerary associate judge that an associate judge of the Federal Court may elect under the Judges Act to hold. The powers, duties and functions of the associate judges shall be determined by the Rules. Each associate judge shall be paid a salary, and the allowances and annuities, provided for under the Judges Act . The Governor in Council may, by regulation, fix the workload of a supernumerary associate judge as a percentage of the workload of an associate judge. An associate judge shall have the same immunity from liability as a judge of the Federal Court. An associate judge shall hold office during good behaviour but may be removed by the Governor in Council for cause. An associate judge, whether appointed before or after the coming into force of this subsection, shall cease to hold office on becoming 75 years old.