The Yukon will get a brand new supreme court judge to help address a logjam in the territory’s justice system.

The 2017 federal budget promised 28 additional federally-appointed judicial positions, one of which will be in the Yukon.

Yukon MP Larry Bagnell welcomed the new appointment in an interview this morning.

“We only have two supreme court judges, and when one is tied up in a long murder trial, that leaves only one judge to do all the routine things they have to do, and more importantly, the civil cases are the ones that are really backed up, because they’re the ones that get pushed to the bottom,” he said.

A civil case filed today could take as long as two years to wind its way through the system, said Bagnell.

“It’s only fair if you’re charged with a crime or you have some serious monetary aspects waiting for a judgment... that it be done in a reasonable time,” he said.

“I think this will increase fairness in the system.”

As of April 1, 2015, judges in the territories earn $308,600 annually, plus a $12,000 northern living allowance.

Senior judges earn $338,400, plus the $12,000 northern living allowance.

It’s unclear when the new judge will be sworn in.

Before the appointment process can begin, legislation needs to change at the federal and territorial levels, said a spokesperson in Bagnell’s office.

The Yukon Supreme Court Act currently allows for just two federal court justices. Right now, those justices are Ron Veale and Leigh Gower.

This spring, the Yukon Liberals will table legislation to amend the act so that a third judge can be appointed, confirmed Catherine Young, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice.

It’s less clear when legislation will change in Ottawa. Bagnell conceded he doesn’t know when the new Yukon Supreme Court judge will be appointed.

“I’m hoping it will be not too long because we have this backlog,” he said.

Yukon Supreme Court justices are appointed by the federal minister of justice, based on the recommendations of a local judicial advisory committee.

The seven-member committee will include lawyers, a judge, and members of the public.

In the past, the RCMP have also sat on judicial advisory committees.

The judicial advisory committee in the Yukon has yet to be announced.

The last time a judge was appointed to the Yukon Supreme Court was 2003, with the swearing-in of Gower.

In the more than 13 years since, diversity, or lack thereof, in all branches of government has come under the microscope.

Bagnell is unsure if the Yukon’s judicial advisory committee will give special consideration to applicants from the Yukon, or First Nations applicants.

He said he would be “delighted” to have a First Nations judge on the Yukon bench.