She worked as the managing lawyer of the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Conflict Office in Sydney
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani, has announced the appointment of Shannon B. Mason, a former Nova Scotia Legal Aid (NSLA) lawyer, as the newest judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia’s Family Division.
This appointment, effective immediately, fills one of the two current vacancies in the court. Justice Mason steps into the role previously held by Justice Kenneth Haley, who moved to supernumerary status on February 12, 2023.
Mason obtained her law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 2003 and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2004. Initially, Justice Mason worked in private practice at H.F. MacIntyre & Associates before joining Nova Scotia Legal Aid in 2005, where she focused on family and criminal law. By 2014, she was the managing lawyer of the NSLA Conflict Office and specialized almost exclusively in child protection law, earning the title of senior staff counsel in 2022.
Throughout her career, Mason has appeared in all levels of court in Nova Scotia and led NSLA's Children and Family Services Act Best Practices Committee. She has also been deeply involved in the legal community, serving on multiple committees of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and as a past president of the Cape Breton Barristers’ Society. Furthermore, she has been an active board member of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton, contributing to her extensive community engagement.
Mason’s appointment aims to bolster the judicial capacity to handle family law matters, particularly in Sydney, where the vacancy placed additional pressure on the local judiciary. "I want to take this opportunity to thank the Family Division judges in Sydney for all of their hard work in covering the Sydney docket while this position was vacant," Chief Justice Deborah K. Smith said.
The appointment of Justice Mason is expected to bring her extensive experience in family and child protection law to the forefront of judicial proceedings in Sydney, enhancing the court’s ability to manage complex family law cases effectively.
Smith expressed her enthusiasm about Mason’s addition to the bench. "We are delighted to have Justice Mason joining the Supreme Court," Smith said. “She clearly has the experience and expertise required to hear family law matters, which is important because these types of cases tend to be some of the most difficult that the Court hears. On behalf of the entire Bench, I welcome Justice Mason and wish her all the best in her new role.”
The Nova Scotia Barristers' Society (NSBS) nominating committee has recently nominated Mason as the Society’s second vice-president for the 2024-2025 Council year. Following her appointment to the bench, the NSBS said, “Justice Mason’s appointment is a tribute to the integrity, professionalism, and experience she has demonstrated throughout her career.” The NSBS Nominating Committee will now turn its attention to identifying a new nominee for the 2024-2025 council year.
