Law360 Canada (September 8, 2026, 1:20 PM EDT) -- The Court of Appeal of Alberta has announced that Chief Justice of Alberta Ritu Khullar died on Sept. 3, surrounded by family. She also served as chief justice of the Courts of Appeal of Alberta, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

According to the court, Chief Justice Khullar spent more than two decades in private practice, becoming a leading Alberta lawyer in public law, including labour and employment, privacy, administrative human rights and constitutional law.

She was appointed to the Alberta Court of King’s Bench in 2017 and to the Courts of Appeal of Alberta, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories the following year. She became chief justice in 2022.

The court described Chief Justice Khullar as deeply dedicated to public service and improving the administration of justice in Alberta and the North. It said she encouraged judges, courts, court staff and the profession to earn and maintain public trust in the justice system, and led by example, undertaking her work in a principled and diligent manner.

Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser also paid tribute to Chief Justice Khullar, saying she “served Canadians with compassion, integrity, intelligence and humility throughout the course of her exceptional legal career.”

“In private practice and then as a judge, she poured her values and her passion into her work, never wavering from her firm belief in fairness, the rule of law and justice for every member of our society,” Fraser said in a statement.

Have news to share with Law360 Canada about staffing changes, new hires, promotions or appointments in Canada’s legal community? Send details to Jen Lauriault at jen.lauriault@lexisnexis.com.