BC welcomed seven judges, Quebec two, and the Tax Court of Canada three
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani, has announced several judicial appointments across British Columbia, Quebec, and the Tax Court of Canada.
Justices Lisa A. Warren and Andrew P. Mayer will serve on the BC Court of Appeal in Vancouver. The federal government appointed Justice Warren to the BC Supreme Court in 2013. She earned her law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1990 and joined the BC bar in 1991. Before her appointment to the bench, she practised civil litigation at Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy, appearing before courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Justice Mayer obtained his law degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, with additional studies at the National University of Singapore. Before his appointment to the BC Supreme Court in 2017, he was vice president of commercial and regulatory affairs at the Prince Rupert Port Authority. His legal expertise includes corporate, Aboriginal, and environmental law.
The BC Supreme Court has also welcomed new justices. Justice C. Richard Hewson will preside in Kelowna, while Justice Lorianna Bennett begins her new role in Kamloops. Justices John N. Walker, Richard S. Fowler, and Mark G. Underhill will serve in Vancouver.
Justice Hewson previously served in the Canadian Army before earning his law degree from the University of Victoria in 1994. He practised criminal law in the Okanagan before the government appointed him to the Provincial Court in 2013, where he presided over family, civil, and criminal matters.
Justice Bennett practised family law and personal injury litigation in Kamloops, where she became a partner at Paul & Company. She also instructed at Thompson Rivers University and has been recognized for her community service.
Justice Walker, formerly senior general counsel at the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, has extensive experience in criminal prosecutions, including cases involving organized crime and wiretap authorizations.
Justice Fowler, a criminal defence lawyer, has appeared in courts across BC and Yukon, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has advocated for legal aid and access to justice throughout his career.
Justice Underhill is a civil litigator who specializes in Aboriginal and environmental law. He has represented First Nations and administrative tribunals while actively contributing to legal education initiatives.
In Quebec, the government has appointed Justices Steve Baribeau and Fany O’Bomsawin to the Superior Court. Justice Baribeau will serve in Laval, while Justice O’Bomsawin preside in Sherbrooke.
Justice Baribeau, originally from Louiseville, practised criminal law for over 20 years as a Crown prosecutor in Quebec. He has argued cases at all court levels and taught at the École du Barreau du Québec.
Justice O’Bomsawin, a member of the Première Nation W8banaki, is an expert in labour and employment law. She has appeared before various tribunals and courts in Quebec.
The Tax Court of Canada has welcomed Justices Lara G. Friedlander and Jenna L. Clark. Andrew Miller has also been named an associate judge.
Justice Friedlander is a tax law expert with experience in both private practice and government. She has taught at McGill University and has authored the Taxation of Corporate Finance. Justice Clark has spent her career as a tax litigator at the Department of Justice Canada, handling complex cases involving international tax matters and tax avoidance. Associate Judge Miller, originally from Montreal, has worked as tax litigation counsel for the Department of Justice Canada, representing the government in appeals at various courts.
Minister of Justice Arif Virani expressed confidence in the newly appointed judges across British Columbia, Quebec, and the Tax Court of Canada.
