One of them fills one of three positions in the Family Division
Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti has announced the appointment of Melanie Del Rizzo, K.C. and Thomas J. Johnson, K.C., to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Del Rizzo filled one of three positions allocated to the court’s Family Division under the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 1, in Grands-Fall Windsor. Johnson replaced Justice R. McGrath (St. John’s) but filled the vacancy in Corner Brook due to internal court transfers.
McGrath was appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador on May 27.
“I wish Justices Del Rizzo and Johnson every success as they take on their new roles,” said Lametti in a press release announcing the judicial appointments. “I am confident they will serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador well as members of the Supreme Court.”
Del Rizzo has been with Smyth Woodland Del Rizzo Barrett for the last 24 years and has practised in various small firms since being called to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 1995. She has served on volunteer boards, including nine years on school councils at her children’s schools and 12 years on the city of St. John’s heritage committee. She regularly presents at the bar admission course and in continuing and public legal education sessions.
Del Rizzo was a chair of the Canadian Bar Association national family section and served on the Canadian Bar Association’s national board of directors. She received the Newfoundland and Labrador Law Society’s Gordon M. Stirling Distinguished Service Award and was appointed King’s Counsel in 2019.
Johnson has worked with O’Dea, Earle since his call to Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 1995. He focused on civil litigation, with experience in administrative law, labour and employment, professional liability insurance, and public utilities regulation.
He has been counsel to the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador’s insurance program since 2012 and was appointed King’s Counsel in 2014.
Johnson also involves himself in the community. He served in the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador’s insurance committee for the past 10 years and, more recently, became a director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Safety Association.
