He started as an assistant crown attorney at the Ontario Ministry of Attorney General
Minister of Justice and Attorney General Arif Virani has announced the appointment of crown attorney Brian C.J. Holowka as a judge of the Superior Court of Justice.
Before his appointment to the bench, Holowka served as crown attorney at the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario in Ottawa. Holowka was born in Lachine, Québec, and spent his formative years in Ottawa. He earned his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1991, where he was a student in the intensive program in criminal law. He was admitted to the Ontario bar in 1993.
Holowka articled for Greenspan, Humphrey in Toronto and later clerked for the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario. Subsequently, he joined the Ontario Ministry of Attorney General as an assistant crown attorney, working in York and Peel regions. He returned home to Ottawa and joined the Ottawa Crown Attorney's Office in 1991. He eventually served as deputy crown attorney from 2009 until 2019. He was later appointed crown attorney for Ottawa.
Holowka is an experienced wiretap agent and a member of the ministry's search experts group and child homicide resource team.
Throughout his career, Holowka has contributed significantly to legal education. He has trained law enforcement personnel and legal professionals in diverse areas such as search and seizure, wiretapping, and complex criminal case proceedings. He has also been an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law since 2014, teaching criminal law, procedure, and forensic science.
Minister Virani expressed his confidence in Justice Holowka's ability to serve the province of Ontario. Virani commented, "I wish Justice Holowka every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Ontarians well as a member of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario."
Holowka replaces Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin, who was elevated to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2022.
