Alberta Chief Justice Ritu Khullar dies after battle with illness

CBC News

· Posted: Sep 04, 2026 7:03 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

The chief justice of Alberta, who also served as the chief justice of the courts of appeal of Alberta, Nunavut and Northwest Territories, is being remembered for her service a day after her death.

A news release issued by the Court of Appeal of Alberta on Friday said Ritu Khullar died on Thursday while surrounded by family members after battling an illness. 

Khullar spent more than two decades in private practice, having worked on public law issues like labour and employment, privacy, administrative, human rights and constitutional law.

She was appointed to the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in 2017. In 2022, Khullar was appointed chief justice of Alberta and chief justice of the courts of appeal of Alberta, Nunavut and Northwest Territories.

“Throughout her distinguished career, she served Albertans with integrity and a deep commitment to the administration of justice," Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a news release issued Friday. "Her service will leave a lasting legacy in Alberta.

“Throughout her career, she dedicated herself to public service. Her many contributions have made a profound impact on Alberta and Canada's justice systems."

In its news release, the Court of Appeal of Alberta described Khullar as a “respected jurist whose intellect, thoughtfulness and compassion were reflected in her work.”

“She never lost sight of the impact her decisions had on the lives of the parties before her," the statement reads. "She understood that justice is the application of law to life."

More to come.