Sylvia Guertin-Riley, Q.C., was appointed a judge of the Family Division of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench

Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba

The Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba is the superior court of the Canadian province of Manitoba...

 on July 27, 1995. Unlike most of her colleagues, she filled a newly created position, instead of replacing another judge.

Madam Justice Guertin-Riley graduated in law from the University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...

 Law School in 1980, and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1981. She then joined the firm of Schwartz, McJannet & Co. and became a partner in 1987. From 1988 until her appointment to the bench, she was a partner with the firm of Riley, Orle, Guertin, Born. She practised mainly civil litigation, family law

Family law

Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...

 and labour law

Labour law

Labour law is the body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which address the legal rights of, and restrictions on, working people and their organizations. As such, it mediates many aspects of the relationship between trade unions, employers and employees...

.

On September 16, 2006, Madam Justice Guertin-Riley elected to become a supernumerary judge.