‘Having a judge in the classroom helps humanize the judiciary’: Professor Colton Fehr
The University of Saskatchewan College of Law (USask Law) has welcomed Justice Richard Danyliuk – a judge of the Court of King’s Bench of Saskatchewan and a former president of the Law Society of Saskatchewan – as its justice-in-residence for 2026.
According to a news release, Danyliuk visited his alma mater from Feb. 2–6. He obtained both his BA in 1980 and his LLB degree in 1983 from the University of Saskatchewan. He also served as a sessional lecturer in civil procedure at USask Law for seven years.
“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,” said Professor Colton Fehr, the program’s faculty representative, in the news release.
During his visit, Danyliuk met students in first- and upper-year classes to impart insights and tips from his legal and judicial career. He observed moot court team practices and offered guidance to those getting ready for future competitions.
Justice-in-residence program
At annual week-long residencies, USask Law hosts past and present jurists from the Saskatchewan Provincial Court and Court of King’s Bench.
“The College of Law arguably enjoys the strongest relationship with the provincial bench and practising bar of any jurisdiction in Canada,” said Martin Phillipson, law dean, in the news release. “In Saskatchewan, most members of these groups are our alumni.”
The justice-in-residence program aims to foster open dialogue in which students can ask questions and authentically understand the work of judges.
"I see firsthand the positive impact it has on our students,” Fehr said. “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.”
In the news release, Danyliuk stressed the value of the judiciary breaking down misconceptions and forming closer connections with faculty members and students alike.
“Judges are regular people, with regular lives, and I’d like to leave students with an understanding of that,” Danyliuk said.
Phillipson welcomed Danyliuk as the justice-in-residence for 2026. On the law school’s behalf, Phillipson expressed gratitude to the judiciary for generously imparting knowledge, dedicating time to the program, and devoting efforts to give back to the law school.
“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,” Phillipson said.
More on Justice Danyliuk
The law school’s news release provided more information on Danyliuk. In 2011, he joined the Court of King’s Bench, assigned to Saskatoon.
Before sitting on the bench, he was a private practitioner based in Saskatoon. He was a senior litigation partner at McDougall Gauley LLP. As a litigator, he handled civil claims, criminal law, and family matters.
As an arbitrator, Danyliuk dealt with private arbitrations. He also served as a provincial inquest coroner and as a senior federal residential school claims adjudicator.
He was a bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan, where he served as president in 2008. He has also been chair of the Saskatchewan Review Board under the Criminal Code and a founding board member of Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan Inc.
Danyliuk has also belonged to the National Judicial Institute’s civil education committee, the criminal law faculty at the federal training school for newly appointed judges, and the Trial Advocacy Workshop faculty.
He has lectured at continuing education seminars and taught the bar course. In 2006, he earned a King’s Counsel designation.
