New judges and more new judges

On Oct. 2, Justice Minister Peter MacKay announced the appointment of a slew of new judges across the country. They are in addition to the official appointment of Justice Marc Nadon to the Supreme Court of Canada by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Thursday. CPAC has archived the ad hoc committee’s Q&A with Nadon from earlier this week if you’re interested in hearing a bit about what he has to say (quite a lot about hockey, but not much about some of his more controversial decisions)

All appointments are effective immediately.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Vernon lawyer Gary Weatherill becomes a judge of Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver, replacing Justice Mary Humphries, who elected to become a supernumerary judge in September. Weatherill has practised with Nixon Wenger LLP since 1980. His main areas of practice are civil litigation and personal injury law.

MANITOBA

Justice Christopher J. Mainella has been appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal for Manitoba to replace Justice Michel Monnin, who went supernumerary in July. Mainella has been a Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba judge since 2012. Prior to his appointment, he had been counsel for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada since 1995. His main areas of practice were criminal law, constitutional law, and extradition.

Mainella will be replaced on the Court of Queen’s Bench by James G. Edmond. Edmond has been a lawyer with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP since 1982 and a partner since 1990. His main practice areas were commercial law, litigation, insurance law, and construction law.

NOVA SCOTIA

Justice J. Edward Scanlan has been elevated to the Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia to replace Justice M. Jill Hamilton, who went supernumerary in November 2012. Scanlan was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in 1993 and sat in Truro. Prior to his appointment, he practised law with the firm Scanlan Graham Scanlan in Pictou.

New Glasgow lawyer Elizabeth Van den Eynden will replace Scanlan at the Supreme Court in Truro. Van den Eynden joined MacIntosh MacDonnell & MacDonald in 1988 and became a partner in 2009. Her main practice areas were labour law, employment law, civil litigation, and child protection.

Halifax’s Joshua M. Arnold has been appointed to the Supreme Court to replace Justice Robert W. Wright, who went supernumerary in June.  Arnold has practised with Arnold Pizzo McKiggan since 1996. Prior to that, he was a lawyer with Scarvelli and Associates from 1995 to 1996. He was Crown attorney for the Public Prosecution Service of Nova Scotia from 1992 to 1995, and practised with Crosby Murtha in Sackville, N.S., from 1990 to 1992. His main area of practice was criminal law.

James L. Chipman of Halifax has also been appointed to the Supreme Court. He replaces Justice Heather Robertson, who went supernumerary in July. Chipman joined Stewart McKelvey in 1998 and became a partner in 2000. Prior to that, he was an associate with Cox Downie from 1992 to 1998. His main practice areas were civil litigation, insurance law, health law, and dispute resolution.

Sydney lawyer Robin Gogan will replace Justice Cindy Bourgeois at the Supreme Court as Bourgeois has been was transferred to Halifax. Gogan has been managing partner of The Breton Law Group since 2011. She was a partner with Sampson McDougall from 2002 to 2011, and an associate with Anderson Nathanson from 1995 to 1998. Her main practice areas were civil litigation, family law, wills and estates, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution.

ONTARIO

Justice Katherine M. van Rensburg has been promoted to the Ontario Court of Appeal to fill the position of justice Edward W. Ducharme, who passed away on June 2, 2013. Van Rensburg was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 2006. Prior to her appointment, she was a partner in the Toronto office of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP where her main areas of practice were environmental law, civil litigation, and commercial litigation.

Justice C. William Hourigan has also been promoted to the Court of Appeal to replace Justice Alexandra H. Hoy, who became Associate Chief Justice of Ontario on June 6. Horrigan joined the Superior Court bench ins 2009 after practising commercial litigation with Fasken Martineau LLP since 1992.

Superior Court Justice Michelle K. Fuerst has been named the regional senior judge of the Central East Region (Newmarket), replacing Justice Michael F. Brown, who resigned as RSJ in April. Brown, in turn, takes over Fuerst’s position in Newmarket.

Peter A. Douglas, a lawyer with Stewart Esten in Barrie, is appointed to the Superior Court bench in Barrie to replace Justice Margaret Eberhard, who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of July. Douglas has practised with Stewart Esten since 1988, and was an associate lawyer with the firm Brock and Brock from 1986 to 1988 where his main areas of practice were family law, civil litigation and criminal law. He has also been a deputy judge of the Small Claims Court for the Central East Region since 1997.

Crown attorney Marc A. Garson has been appointed to the Superior Court to sit in London. He replaces Justice John A. Desotti, who went supernumerary in February and whose vacancy was transferred to London. Garson is admitted to the bars of Ontario and Nova Scotia and has been the director of Crown operations, west region criminal division, for the Ministry of the Attorney General since 1997.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Nancy L. Key, has been appointed to the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island, to replace Justice J.K. Mitchell, who was appointed to the Court of Appeal. Key began practising with Key and Key in 1982, which in 2008, merged with McInnes Cooper. Her areas of practice were primarily family law, estate planning, and real estate law.