In May 1871, the
legislature of Manitoba enacted
The Supreme Court Act to establish a
superior court with original and
appellate jurisdiction in the province, called the
Manitoba Supreme Court. The law provided: There shall be constituted a Court of Justice for the Province of Manitoba, to be styled "The Supreme Court," which shall have jurisdiction over ail matters of Law and Equity, ail matters of wills and intestacy, and shall possess such powers and authorities in relation to matters of Local or Provincial jurisdiction, as in England are distributed among the Superior Courts of Law and Equity, and of Probate. The Act also established inferior courts known as
Petty Sessions. In 1872,
The Supreme Court Act was amended by the Manitoba Legislature to change the name of the court to "The Court of Queen's Bench," and the first Chief Justice was appointed in July that year. Also that year, the Petty Sessions were abolished and
County Courts were established. In 1906, the appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Queen's Bench was transferred to the newly-established
Manitoba Court of Appeal. In 1984, the County Courts were merged with the Court of Queen's Bench, and the judges of the County Courts became Court of Queen's Bench judges. Further, in 1984 the Family Division of the Court of Queen's Bench was established. == Divisions ==