Chief judge and associate chief judge named, new judges added in Fredericton and Woodstock
The Department of Justice and Public Safety of New Brunswick has promoted two judges and appointed two new judges to the provincial court.
New Brunswick Justice Minister Hugh Flemming made the announcement, which sees the court reach its full complement of 25 full-time judges, including the chief judge, associate chief judge, four supernumerary judges, and four per diem judges.
In two promotions, each for a seven-year term, Brian McLean is now chief judge and Mélanie Poirier LeBlanc is now associate chief judge of the provincial court, said the New Brunswick government’s news release.
McLean replaced former chief judge Marco Cloutier, whom the federal government appointed to the New Brunswick Court of King’s Bench last July, according to the news release. McLean has served on the provincial court since 2014 and was named associate chief judge in 2022.
McLean practised law in Carleton County for nearly 20 years before his appointment to the bench. Admitted to the bar in 1996, he obtained an honours degree in history and political science from the University of New Brunswick in 1992 and a law degree from the same institution in 1995.
LeBlanc, who joined the provincial court in 2023, replaced McLean in the role of associate chief judge, said the news release. She served as assistant deputy attorney general of Public Prosecution Services before her judicial appointment. Called to the bar in 2006, she earned a bachelor of arts degree from Mount Allison University in 2000 and an LLB from Université de Moncton in 2003.
Pierre Gionet joined as a new judge in the provincial court in Fredericton, while Karen Lee joined in Woodstock, said the provincial government’s news release.
Gionet has worked as a Crown prosecutor with Public Prosecution Services since 2000, according to the news release. Admitted to the bar in 1996, he graduated from Université de Moncton with a bachelor of secondary education in 1991 and a bachelor of laws in 1995.
Lee most recently served as executive director of Public Prosecution Services, said the news release. Called to the bar in 2001, she graduated from St. Thomas University with a bachelor of arts in 1997 and from the University of New Brunswick with a bachelor of laws in 2000.
