They specialize in Aboriginal and immigration law
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani has announced the appointment of Julie L. Blackhawk and Angus G. Grant as judges of the Federal Court
Julie L. Blackhawk is a Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Nation member. Her legal career commenced after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lakehead University in 1995, focusing on political science and indigenous studies, followed by a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia in 1998. She was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1999 and the Ontario Bar in 2004.
Blackhawk’s early work at the Legal Services Society in British Columbia laid a foundation for a career that would be heavily focused on Aboriginal law and Indigenous issues. Blackhawk was an active member of the Federal Court Aboriginal Law Bar Liaison Committee and she contributed to the development of the Practice Guidelines for Aboriginal Law Proceedings, 2016. She regularly spoke on various topics related to s.35 Aboriginal law and Indigenous issues.
Angus G. Grant obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in international development studies from Trent University, followed by joint Masters and Law Degrees from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. His legal practice began at Borden, Ladner, Gervais LLP in Toronto, eventually leading him to a specialized focus on immigration and refugee law.
Grant appeared before various trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada on a number of occasions. He also worked for Legal Aid Ontario from 2004 to 2015. In 2019, he became the Assistant Deputy Chairperson for the Refugee Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board and has played a leadership role in the management of the Board. Grant has published widely in these legal domains and is a frequent speaker at conferences, law school programs, and training sessions across the country.
“I wish Justices Blackhawk and Grant every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve Canadians well as members of the Federal Court,” Minister Virani said.
