Michael Battista and Catharine Moore appointed to the Federal Court

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani, has announced two new appointments to the Federal Court.

Michael Battista, previously the founding counsel at Battista Migration Law Group in Toronto, has been appointed a judge of the Federal Court, filling the vacancy left by Justice E. Walker, who was elevated to the Federal Court of Appeal. Catharine Moore, formerly the senior general counsel at the Department of Justice Canada in Ottawa, has been appointed as an associate judge of the Federal Court.

Michael Battista brings extensive experience in immigration and refugee law to his new role. He earned his law degree from Queen’s Faculty of Law. Since being called to the Ontario bar in 1992, he has dedicated his career to this specialized field, earning a certification as a “Specialist in Immigration and Refugee Law” from the Law Society of Ontario.

Justice Battista’s contributions to the legal community include appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada on behalf of organizations such as Amnesty International and EGALE Canada. He is also a noted author and was an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. His community service includes leadership roles with the AIDS Committee of Toronto and Rainbow Railroad, an international 2SLGBTQI+ refugee support organization.

Associate Judge Catharine Moore’s legal career has been marked by her extensive work in civil litigation, focusing on class proceedings. A graduate of the University of Ottawa and called to the Ontario bar in 1994, she has served in various capacities at the Department of Justice Canada. Moore is recognized for her contributions to legal education and mentoring and has actively participated in continuing legal education, sharing her expertise in civil procedure and class actions.

Moore is a former member of the Ontario Superior Court Bench and Bar, Class Actions Section, and the Federal Court Class Action Liaison Committee. She is also a frequent panellist at continuing legal education events.

Minister Virani expressed confidence in Battista and Moore as they assumed their new roles.