British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Bruce Josephson has been chosen as the trial judge in the Air India case – Canada's worst-ever mass murder.

The 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182 killed 329 people and the trial of the two suspects is expected to be the most complicated murder case ever heard in Canada.

The judge's first task will be determining whether the suspects have been given a fair chance to prepare their defence.

Josephson presided over the 1997 case of 18 men and women involved in the armed standoff at Gustafson Lake. His new assignment promises to be the most complex legal undertaking ever in Canada.

The alleged Air India bombers, Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik, were charged six months ago with conspiring to murder the 329 passengers and crew of Air India flight 182. They've been in custody ever since.

Josephson's first act was to impose a publication ban on several motions from the defence. However, outside the courtroom, Malik's lawyer Ian Donaldson confirmed that the demands of sorting through a quarter of a million pages of evidence with his client in jail is proving overwhelming.

The Crown's spokesperson, Jeff Gaul says both sides want to find a way to make sure the suspects and their legal teams are treated fairly.

"We're making the appropriate disclosure as required. If there are difficulties they're advising us and we're working forward to finding an acceptable solution to all parties," said Gaul.

There's the possibility that a third suspect, Inderjit Singh Reyat, will be added to the trial. But Canada first needs Britain to amend his 11-year-old extradition order to permit B.C. authorities to lay new murder charges.

An official with Britain's Home Office says that request is being treated with urgency.