Usask Law welcomes Court of King’s Bench Justice-in-Residence
The Hon. Justice Richard Danyliuk is the Court of King’s Bench Justice-in-Residence for 2026 at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law (USask Law).
USask Law welcomed The Hon. Justice Richard Danyliuk as the college’s Justice-in-Residence from Feb. 2 to 6.
Justice Danyliuk engaged with students in first- and upper-year classes, sharing practical insights drawn from his career as a lawyer and time on the bench. He also attended several moot team practices, offering guidance as students prepare for upcoming competitions.
“My hope for this program is that it creates a closer bond between the college and judiciary, both for professors and for students,” said Justice Danyliuk.
Designed to encourage open dialogue, the justice-in-residence program gives students the opportunity to be inquisitive while gaining an authentic understanding of judicial work.
"I see firsthand the positive impact it has on our students,” said Professor Colton Fehr, the faculty representative for the program. “Having a judge in the classroom helps humanize the judiciary and gives students direct insight into life on the bench, a perspective rarely available in an academic setting.”
Justice Danyliuk echoed that, emphasizing the importance of breaking down misconceptions about the judiciary.
“Judges are regular people, with regular lives, and I’d like to leave students with an understanding of that.”
Each year, the College of Law hosts current and former jurists from the provincial court and the Court of King’s Bench during week-long residencies. Dean Martin Phillipson said the college is grateful for the time and support the court provides the program and was especially pleased to welcome Justice Danyliuk this year.
“The College of Law arguably enjoys the strongest relationship with the provincial bench and practising bar of any jurisdiction in Canada,” said Phillipson. “In Saskatchewan, most members of these groups are our alumni, and we are incredibly fortunate and grateful that they take every opportunity to give back to the college through the sharing of their time, knowledge and expertise.”
“The Court of King’s Bench judge‑in‑residence program is an outstanding example of that generosity, offering students invaluable access to, and insight from, jurists sitting at the Court of King’s Bench.”
Fehr also highlighted the significance of having a sitting judge visit a law school.
“Judges bring on-the-ground experience in law, and given their demanding schedules, having them immersed in the college for a full week is both an honour and an incredible learning opportunity."
About The Hon. Justice Richard Danyliuk: Justice Danyliuk obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1983, both from the University of Saskatchewan. He was in private practice in Saskatoon and was a senior litigation partner at McDougall Gauley LLP upon his appointment to the Court of King’s Bench in 2011. His litigation-based practice involved civil claims but also criminal and family work.
He was an arbitrator in numerous private arbitrations, as well as holding appointments as a provincial inquest coroner and senior federal residential school claims adjudicator. He was a frequent lecturer at continuing education seminars, instructed at the bar course, and was a sessional lecturer in Civil Procedure at the USask College of Law for seven years. In 2006, he received his King’s Counsel designation.
Justice Danyliuk is a former Bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan and was president in 2008. He is one of the founding Board members of Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan Inc. He chaired the Saskatchewan Review Board under the Criminal Code and serves on the National Judicial Institute’s Civil Education Committee. He is also on the criminal law faculty at the federal training school for newly appointed judges. In 2019, Justice Danyliuk joined the Trial Advocacy Workshop faculty.