FREDERICTON (GNB) – Three judicial appointments were announced today by Justice and Public Safety Minister and Attorney General Hugh J. Flemming.
Sébastien Michaud of Grand Falls has been appointed as a sitting judge in Edmundston, Claude Haché of Fredericton has been appointed as a sitting judge in Saint John, and Anne Richard of Moncton has been appointed as a sitting judge in Moncton.
“Ensuring access to an impartial and effective justice system is an important responsibility of government,” said Flemming. “These appointments will have a positive impact on our communities. We congratulate these individuals on their judicial appointments. We know their expertise and professionalism will serve them well in this new role.”
The appointments fill vacancies and bring the number of full-time provincial court judges to 22, including the chief judge and the associate chief judge. There are also 10 supernumerary judges and one per diem judge.
Michaud graduated from the Université de Moncton with a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of laws. He was called to the bar in 1995. He worked in private practice before serving as a Crown prosecutor.
Haché graduated from Dalhousie University with a bachelor of arts and from the Université de Moncton with a bachelor of laws. He was called to the bar in 2008. Haché has worked in private practice and is currently a Crown prosecutor with the specialized prosecutions branch of Public Prosecution Services.
Richard graduated from the Université de Moncton with a bachelor of social sciences and a bachelor of laws. She was called to the bar in 1991. She has worked for the Department of Justice and Public Safety as a hearing officer and, prior to that, she was the legal officer for the Judicial District of Moncton.
All applications for appointment to the provincial court are assessed by the provincial judicial appointment review advisors who represent the bench, the bar and the general public. The advisors consider the professional and other qualifications of each candidate in carrying out their assessments. The appointment process also includes interviews by a committee composed of the chief justice of New Brunswick, the chief judge and/or associate chief judge of the provincial court, and one of the provincial judicial appointment review advisors representing the general public.
At the request of the chief judge, a number of transfers were also recently approved:
· Judge Suzanne Bernard from Campbellton to Moncton
· Judge Eric Sonier from Tracadie to Bathurst
· Judge Johanne-Marguerite Landry from Caraquet to Miramichi
· Judge Natalie LeBlanc from Miramichi to Fredericton
· Judge Cameron Gunn from Miramichi to Fredericton
· one vacancy from Campbellton to Edmundston
· one vacancy from Fredericton to Saint John
16-12-21