The federal government announced the appointment of a slew of judges across the country Thursday.
The appointments came after the government faced increasing calls to quickly fill judicial vacancies amidst worsening court delays and new caps put in place by R. v. Jordan.
Justice Canada also announced some changes to the judicial appointment process.
The government announced three representatives of the general public, who could be lawyers or non-lawyers, will sit on Judicial Advisory Committees in an effort to making the process more transparent.
Other reforms the government is planning for JACs include publishing data on judicial applicants and appointees as well as putting an emphasis on making sure JACs represent the diversity of Canada.
NOVA SCOTIA
Provincial court judge Timothy Gabriel was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Halifax.
Pamela MacKeigan, a senior solicitor with the Department of Justice on Nova Scotia, was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia’s family division in Halifax.
Ann Smith, a partner with Burchells LLP, has been appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Halifax.
QUEBEC
Patrick Healy, a judge of the Court of Quebec, has been appointed to serve on the province’s Court of Appeal.
ALBERTA
Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Michelle Crighton has been appointed to the Alberta Court of Appeal in Edmonton.
Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Jo’Anne Strekaf has been appointed to serve on the Alberta Court of Appeal Edmonton. She will also serve as a judge on the Court of Appeals for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Kevin Feehan, a partner with Dentons Canada LLP, has been appointed to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton.
James Eamon, a partner with Gowling Canada, has been appointed to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Calgary.
Jolaine Antonio, an appellate counsel with Alberta Justice, has been appointed a judge of the Alberta Court of Queens’ Bench in Calgary.
Prosecutor George Fraser has been appointed to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmontons.
Bonnie Bokenfohr, the interim executive director of the Edmonton Police Commission, has been appointed to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton.
ONTARIO
Ontario Superior Court Justice Gary Trotter has been appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Justice James Turnbull, the regional senior judge for the Central South Region of the Superior Court of Justice, has been transferred back to the regular complement in Hamilton to replace Justice Harrison Arrell, who has been appointed regional senior judge for the Central South Region.
Peter Cavanagh, a senior partner with Dentons Canada LLP in Toronto, has been appointed to the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto.
Tracy Engelking, a senior counsel with the Children’s Aid Society in Ottawa, has been appointed to the Superior Court of Justice and a member of the Family Court in Ottawa.
Jasmine Akbarali, a partner with Lerners LLP in Toronto, has been appointed to the Superior Court of Justice.
Joseph Di Luca, a partner with Di Luca Dann LLP in Toronto, has been appointed to the Superior Court of Justice in Newmarket.
Lene Madsen, a principal mediator with Bluewater Mediation in London, has been appointed to the Superior Court of Justice and a member of the Family court in Hamilton.
MANITOBA
Lore Mirwaldt, a partner with Mirwaldt & Gray in Winnipeg, has been appointed to Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba in Winnipeg.
David Kroft, a lawyer with Filmore Riley LLP in Winnipeg, has been appointed to Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba in Winnipeg.
Candace Grammond, a partner with Pitblado LLP in Winnipeg, has been appointed to Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba in Winnipeg.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Heather MacNaughton, a master of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver, has been appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver.
Catherine Murray, a Crown counsel, has been appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver.
Joyce DeWitt-Van Oosten, an assistant deputy attorney general with the Ministry of Justic in Victoria, has been appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver.
