This release was issued under a previous government.

Lester received her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta in 1984. She was admitted to the bar the following year.

Lester served twice as Crown Prosecutor, from 1988 to 1990 and again from 2000 to 2008. She was also a criminal defence attorney. She has served as a part-time Justice of the Peace since 2008 and full-time since 2012. Lester has been involved with various community initiatives, including the Foster Care Advisory Council, the Youth Emergency Shelter Society, and a volunteer board member with the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association.

“Ms. Lester’s diverse legal career is a strong addition to the bench. Her commitment to the profession and her experience will serve Edmonton Provincial court well.”

 Jonathan Denis, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Solicitor General

The Alberta Judicial Council screens all candidates for Provincial Court appointments and forwards a list of recommended applicants to the Provincial Court Nominating Committee. The committee then interviews candidates from the list and recommends the names of those appointees felt to be of the highest calibre to the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.

The Provincial Court Nominating Committee was established in 1999. The 11 members are appointed by the Minister of Justice and represent the Alberta Provincial Court, the Law Society of Alberta, the Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch), and other members from the legal profession and the public. The Judicial Council has representatives from the Alberta Provincial Court, Court of Queen’s Bench, Court of Appeal and the Law Society of Alberta. It also includes two people appointed by the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.