Nova Scotia Supreme Court

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Template:Short description

Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court is a superior court in the province of Nova Scotia.

The Supreme Court consists of 25 judicial seats including the position of Chief Justice and Associate Chief Justice.<ref name="fja">Template:Cite web</ref> At any given time there may be one or more additional justices who sit as supernumerary justices.<ref name="fja"/> The justices sit in 18 different locations around the province.

Jurisdiction

As with all superior trial courts across the country, the court has inherent jurisdiction. It hears civil and criminal trials. The criminal trials can be judge alone or judge and jury. The court also hears appeals from the Provincial Court, small claims court, Family court, and various provincial tribunals.

Appeals of Supreme Court decisions are then made to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

History

1st Chief Justice Jonathan Belcher by John Singleton Copley (1754), Court Room 4, Nova Scotia Supreme Court
Site of First Court House Plaque, Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, Scotia Square, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange By Benjamin West, Nova Scotia Supreme Court, Court Room 5, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada<ref>According to Thomas Akins, this portrait hung in the legislature of Province House (Nova Scotia) in 1847 (See Akins, History of Halifax, p. 189). According to Arthur Eaton, the portrait was still in Province House in 1891. p. 33</ref>

While the first court administering the Common Law was established in Annapolis Royal in 1721, the creation of a Supreme Court took place on October 21, 1754, several years before the Province was granted a legislative assembly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The court is the oldest court in Canada and is among the oldest in North America.

Jonathan Belcher was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. The court's jurisdiction extended to the entire colony, which, after the Treaty of Paris ended the war with France in 1763, includes present day Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and eastern Maine.

In 1990, on the recommendation of the Nova Scotia Court Structure Task Force, the County and Supreme courts were merged to create a bench of 25 judges at the trial level. Since 1999, the Supreme Court also administers the Nova Scotia Family Division Court, with eight judges, that has jurisdiction over divorces and other family law cases in the Halifax and industrial Cape Breton.

Supreme Court Family Division

The Supreme Court includes the Family Division which adjudicates matters of family law in the regions of Halifax and Cape Breton. As Supreme Court Justices, they have authority over both divorce as well as all other family law matters, unlike their provincial court counterparts who do not have the federal authority to adjudicate divorces.

Justices of the Supreme Court

Name Location Date appointed Appointed by Prior position(s)
Chief Justice Deborah K. Smith<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax 2019 Trudeau Associate Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court (2004–2019)
Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice (2001–2004)
McInnes Cooper (1983 to 2001)
Associate Chief Justice Patrick J. Duncan<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Halifax 2007 Harper Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice (2007–2020)

Beveridge, MacPherson & Duncan (1986 to 2007)
NS Legal Aid (1980 to 1986)

Justice Patrick Murray<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="pressreader.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="justice.gc.ca">Template:Cite news</ref> Sydney 2010 Harper Murray, Gouthro, Wall LLP (2002 to 2010)
Gillis and Murray LLP

Stewart, McKelvey, Stirling, Scales LLP (1991 to 2002)

Justice Pierre L. Muise<ref name="pressreader.com"/><ref name="justice.gc.ca"/> Yarmouth 2010 Harper Provincial Court Judge (2009 to 2010)

NS Public Prosecution Service (1996 to 2009)

Justice Peter Rosinski<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Halifax 2010 Harper NS Public Prosecution Service (1989 to 2010)
Appeal Crown (2005 to 2010)
McLean & Associates (1989)
Margeson & Wilson (1988)
MacIntosh, MacDonnell & MacDonald (1986 to 1988)
Justice James L. Chipman<ref name="appoint2013">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="justice2013">Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax 2013 Harper Stewart McKelvey Sterling Scales LLP (1998 to 2013)

Cox Downie (1992 to 1998)

Justice Joshua M. Arnold<ref name="appoint2013"/><ref name="justice2013" /> Halifax 2013 Harper Arnold Pizzo McKegan LLP (1996 to 2013)
NS Crown Attorney
Justice Robin C. M. Gogan<ref name="appoint2013" /><ref name="justice2013" /> Sydney 2013 Harper Breton Law Group (2011 to 2013)

Sampson McDougall (2002 to 2011)

Justice Denise Boudreau<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax 2013 Harper Public Prosecution Service of Canada (2007 to 2013)
NS Legal Aid (1998–2007)
LeBlanc, MacDonald, and Pickup (1994 to 1998)
Justice Jamie Campbell<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax 2014 Harper Provincial Court Judge (2005 to 2014)

Cox Hanson (1983 to 2005)

Justice Jeffrey R. Hunt<ref name = DepartmentofJustice>Template:Cite web</ref> Truro 2015 Harper Patterson Law (1992 to 2015)
Justice D. Timothy Gabriel<ref name="canada.ca">Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax 2016 Trudeau Provincial Court Judge (2010 to 2016)

Landry McGillivray (1982 to 2010)

Justice Ann E. Smith<ref name="canada.ca"/> Halifax 2016 Trudeau Burchells LLP
Justice Christa Brothers<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= Judicial_Appointments>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax 2017 Trudeau Stewart McKelvey Sterling Scales LLP
Justice John Bodurtha<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax 2018 Trudeau Atlantic Regional Office, Justice Canada
Justice Darlene Jamieson Halifax 2018 Trudeau Merrick Jamieson Sterns Washington & Mahody
Justice Scott Norton Halifax 2018 Trudeau Stewart McKelvey
Justice John Keith Halifax 2019 Trudeau Weir Foulds, Toronto (1993–1999)

Cox & Palmer, Halifax (2000–2019)

Justice Diane Rowe Bridgewater 2020 Trudeau Department of Justice
Justice Jean Dewolfe Kentville 2021 Trudeau Provincial Court of Nova Scotia
Justice Lloyd Berliner 2021 Trudeau Patterson Law
Justice Gail Gatchalian Halifax 2021 Trudeau Pink Larkin Lawyers
Supernumerary
Name Location Date appointed Appointed by Prior position(s)
Justice Frank C. Edwards Sydney 1993 Chrétien
Justice Gerald R. P. Moir<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Halifax 1997 Chrétien Burchell, MacDougall (1984 to 1997)
Federal Business Development Bank (1980 to 1984)
Weldo, Misener & Covert (1977 to 1980)
Justice Robert William Wright<ref name="justice">Template:Cite news</ref> Halifax 1998 Chrétien Daley, Black & Moreira
Justice C. Richard Coughlan<ref name="justice2">Template:Cite news</ref> Bridgewater 2001 Chrétien Coughlan and Coughlan
Justice Mona M. Lynch<ref name="justice3">Template:Cite news</ref> Bridgewater 2002 Chrétien Dept of Justice, Youth Crime
NS Legal Aid (1987 to 1999)
Justice of Family Division
NS Legal Aid
Justice Gregory M. Warner <ref name="NOVA SCOTIA JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS"/> Kentville 2003 Chrétien Warner, Jacquard
Pink Macdonald Harding
Town of Yarmouth
Justice Kevin Coady<ref name="NOVA SCOTIA JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS">Template:Cite news</ref> Halifax 2003 Chrétien Coady Filiter
Justice N. M. (Nick) Scaravelli<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Pictou/Antigonish 2006 Harper Macintosh MacDonnell & MacDonald (1977 to 2006)

Fitzgerald and Assoc. (1974 to 1977)

Justice Glen G. McDougall<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="canada.justice.gc.ca">Template:Cite news</ref> Halifax 2001 Chrétien Sampson McDougall LLP (1983 to 2001)

Past Judges

Name Location Duration Appointed by Prior position(s)
Justice M. Heather Robertson 1998 to 2021 Jean Chrétien Chief of Staff to the Premier of Nova Scotia (1995)
Burchell, MacDougall (1986 to 1998)
Walker, Dunlop (1985 to 1986)
Chief Justice Joseph Phillip Kennedy 1997 to 2019 Jean Chrétien Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (1998 to 2019)
Chief Judge of Provincial Court (1993 to 1997)
Provincial Court Judge (1978 to 1993)
Kenney, Theakson, Kennedy & Allen (1969 to 1978)
Justice Felix A. Cacchione<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1986 to 2018 Brian Mulroney Private Practice
Nova Scotia Legal Aid
Justice Elizabeth Van den Eynden<ref name="justice2013"/><ref name = DepartmentofJustice/> 2013 to 2015 Stephen Harper MacIntosh, MacDonnell & MacDonald (1988 to 2013)
Justice Arthur W. D. Pickup<ref name="justice3"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2002 to 2016 Jean Chrétien LeBlanc, MacDonald & Pickup (1975 to 2002)
Justice Linda Lee Oland 1998 to 2000 Jean Chrétien McInnes, Cooper & Robertson (1976 to 1998)
Justice Arthur Joseph LeBlanc<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 1998 to 2017 Jean Chrétien
Justice Joseph Michael MacDonald 1995 to 2005 Jean Chrétien
Justice Marlene Jill Hamilton<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 1995 to 2001 Jean Chrétien
Justice John Edward Flinn 1995 to 2002 Jean Chrétien
Justice J. Edward Scanlan 1993 to 2015
Justice Hiram Joseph Carver 1993 to 2005
Justice Nancy Jean Bateman 1993 to 1995
Justice Charles Edward Haliburton<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> January 1993 to 2013 Brian Mulroney Eric Kinsman (1962 to 1986), Member of Parliament (1972 to 1974, 1979 to 1980)
Justice Ian Palmeter 1993 to 1997 County Court Judge (1985 to 1993)
Justice Simon James MacDonald<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1993 to 2016 Brian Mulroney County Court Judge (1982 to 1993)
Crown attorney
MacIntyre, MacDonald & Gillis
federal Department of Justice
Justice Donald MacKinnon Hall 1993 to 2006 County Court Judge (1982 to 1993)
Justice Douglas Lawrence MacLennan 1993 to unknown
Justice Norman Robert Anderson 1993 to 1998
Justice Hugh John MacDonnell 1993 to 1995
Justice Murray James Ryan 1993 to 1994
Justice Ronald Newton Pugsley 1993 to 2000
Justice Jamie William Sutherland Saunders 1990 to 2015 Brian Mulroney
Justice David William Gruchy 1990 to 2007 Brian Mulroney
Justice Walter Robert Evans Goodfellow 1990 to 2009 Brian Mulroney
Justice Allan Paul Boudreau<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> March 30, 1990 to 2007
2007 to October 31, 2016 (Supernumerary) 		Brian Mulroney Crawford, Boudreau & Khattar (1975 to March 30, 1990)
Justice Gerald B. Freeman 1990 to 1993 Brian Mulroney County Court Judge (1988 to 1990)
Justice Elizabeth Ann MacKinnon Roscoe 1989 to 1992 Brian Mulroney
Justice David Ritchie Chipman 1987 to 2000 Brian Mulroney
Justice John McNab Davison 1987 to 2008 Brian Mulroney
Justice Gordon Alfred Tidman 1985 to 2007 Brian Mulroney
Justice Francis Bernard William Kelly 1985 to 2009 Brian Mulroney
Justice Kenneth McNeill Matthews 1985 to 1997 Brian Mulroney
Justice Robert Buckley MacDonald 1985 to 1995 Brian Mulroney
Justice Hilroy Selig Nathanson 1982 to 2007
Justice Daniel Merlin Nunn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1982 to 2005
Justice Lorne Otis Clarke 1981 to 1997
Justice Roderick MacLeod Rogers 1981 to 1998
Justice Peter M. Nicholson Digby, Annapolis Royal 1981 to 1986
Justice Charles Denne Burchell 1979 to 1989
Justice Kenneth Peter Richard 1978 to 2007<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Justice Leonard Lawson Pace 1978 to 1990
Justice Constance Rachlle Glube 1977 to 1998
Justice James Doane Hallett 1977 to 1990
Justice William Johnston Grant 1977 to 1995
Justice Angus Lewis Macdonald 1973 to 1992
Justice Alexander Murdoch Macintosh 1973 to 1991
Justice Ian Malcolm MacKeigan 1973 to 1990
Justice Vincent Alan James Morrison 1973 to 1987
Justice Malachi Cornelius Hubert Jones 1970 to 1979
Justice Gordon Leavitt Shaw Hart 1968 to 1999
Justice Donald Joseph Gillis 1968 to 1973
Justice Arthur Gordon Cooper 1968 to 1983
Justice Justin Louis Dubisky (1967–1976) 1967 to 1976
Justice Gordon Stewart Cowan 1966 to 1981
Justice Alexander Hugh McKinnon 1966 to 1973
Justice Ronald Manning Fielding 1965 to 1972
Justice Vincent Joseph Pottier 1965 to 1970
Justice Thomas Herbert Coffin 1961 to 1981
Justice Frederick William Bissett 1961 to 1977
Justice Frank Harris Patterson 1958 to 1965
Justice Vincent Christopher MacDonald 1950 to 1964
Justice Lauchlin Daniel Currie 1949 to 1968
Justice James Lorimer Ilsley 1949 to 1967
Justice Eugene Troop Parker 1948 to 1961
Justice Josiah H. MacQuarrie 1947 to 1968
Justice John Stanley Smiley 1938 to 1945
Justice Joseph Andrew Chisholm<ref name="Chief"/> 1916 to 1950
Justice Robert Edward Harris<ref name="Chief">Chief Justices Courts of Nova Scotia</ref> 1915 to 1931
Justice James Johnston Ritchie<ref name="Ritchies">Interesting Personalities - The Ritchies: A judicial family Courts of Nova Scotia</ref> 1912 to 1925
Justice Wallace Nesbit Graham<ref name="Chief"/> 1889 to 1917
Justice Charles James Townshend<ref name="Chief"/> 1887 to 1904
Justice James McDonald<ref name="Chief"/> 1881 to 1904
Justice Robert Linton Weatherbe<ref name="Chief"/> 1878 to 1907
Justice John William Ritchie<ref name="Ritchies"/> 1873 to 1882
Justice William Frederick DesBarres 1848 to 1881
Justice Arthur Drysdale 1907 to 1922
Justice Humphrey Mellish 1918 to 1937
Justice William Young 1860 to 1881
Justice Sampson Salter Blowers 1797 to 1833
Justice John Sparrow David Thompson 1882 to 1885
Justice Benjamin Russell 1904 to 1935
Justice James Wilberforce Longley 1905 to 1922
Justice Joseph Norman 1885 to 1904
Justice William F. Carroll 1925 to 1949
Justice Alexander James 1877 to 1889
Justice William Lorimer Hall 1931 to 1958
Justice Brenton Halliburton 1807 to 1860
Justice Lewis Morris Wilkins 1856 to 1876
Justice William Blowers Bliss 1834 to 1869
Justice Thomas Chandler Haliburton 1841 to 1856
Justice Peleg Wiswall 1816 to 1836
Justice Richard John Uniacke Jr. 1830 to 1834

Judges of the Supreme Court Family Division

Name Location Date appointed Appointed by Prior position(s)
Associate Chief Justice Lawrence I. O'Neil<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Halifax Template:Dts Stephen Harper Justice of Family Division (19 September 2007 to present)
NS Legal Aid, Antigonish (1999 to 2007)
Pickup & MacDowell (1997 to 1999)
Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada (1990 to 1993)
Sole Practitioner (1989 to 1990)
Member of Parliament (1984 to November 21, 1988)
Assistant to the Premier of Nova Scotia (1980 to 1982)
Justice Leslie J. Dellapinna<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax Template:Dts Jean Chrétien Cox Hanson O'Reilly Matheson
Justice Theresa M. Forgeron<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sydney Template:Dts Paul Martin H. F. MacIntyre and Associates
Justice Kenneth Haley<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sydney Template:Dts Stephen Harper Crown attorney (1984 to 2008)
MacLellan, MacDonald & Haley (1980 to 1984)
Justice Elizabeth Jollimore<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax Template:Dts Stephen Harper Stewart McKelvey (1988 to 2008)
Olsers (1987 to 1988)
Justice Beryl A. MacDonald<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax Template:Dts Paul Martin Hicks, LeMoine
Justice Robert M. Gregan<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sydney Template:Dts Stephen Harper NS Legal Aid
Hicks, Lemoine (1991 to 2003)
Justice Robert Ferguson<ref name="family2002"/> Halifax Template:Dts Chrétien McIntyre, Gillis & Ferguson (1962 to 1971)
Family Court Judge (1971 to 1999)
Justice Carole A. Beaton<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Halifax Template:Dts Stephen Harper Provincial court (2002 to 2011)
Beaton Blaikie (1994 to 2002)
Sole practitioner (1992 to 1994)
Creighton & Shatford (1988 to 1992)
Justice C. Lou Ann Chiasson<ref name = DepartmentofJustice/> Halifax Template:Dts Stephen Harper Weldon McInnes (2000 to 2015)
Chiasson McClure (1995 to 2000)
Sole practitioner (1994 to 1995)
Burchell MacAdam & Hayman (1992 to 1994)
Justice Cindy G. Cormier<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax Template:Dts Stephen Harper Department of Justice
Justice R. Lester Jesudason Halifax Template:Dts Stephen Harper Blois Nickerson (1997 to 2015)
Justice Pamela J. MacKeigan Halifax Template:Dts Justin Trudeau Blois Nickerson
NS Legal Aid
Justice Lee Anne MacLeod-Archer Sydney Template:Dts Stephen Harper Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales (1992 to 2002)
LaFosse MacLeod (2002 to 2014)
Justice Cindy Murray<ref name= Judicial_Appointments/> Halifax Template:Dts Justin Trudeau NS Legal Aid (1993 to 2017)
Supernumerary
Name Location Date of appointment Prior position(s)
Justice R. James Williams<ref name="family2002">Template:Cite news</ref> Halifax Template:Dts Walker, Dunlop (1986 to 1987)
Blois, Nickerson, Palmeter and Bryson (1987 to 1999)
Justice Moira C. Legere-Sers<ref name="family2002" /> Port Hawkesbury Template:Dts NS Legal Aid (1993 to 1999)
Maritime Life Assurance Company (1980 to 1984)
Boyne Clarke (1977 to 1980)
Justice Deborah Gass<ref name="family2002" /> Halifax Template:Dts Executive Director of the Penitentiary Legal Services (1979 to 1991)
Wright, Chivers & Co (1977)
Justice Darryl W. Wilson<ref name="family2002" /> Sydney Template:Dts Family Court Judge (1985 to 1999)
Crown Attorney (1980 to 1982)
Edwards & Wilson (1976 to 1980)
Retired
Name Location Duration Appointed By Prior position(s)
Justice Douglas C. Campbell<ref name="family2002" /><ref name="FDappts"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Halifax 1999 - 2016 Jean Chrétien Cox Hansen O'Reilly Matheson (1974 to March 30, 1999)
Justice J. Vernon MacDonald<ref name="FDappts"/> Sydney 1999 - 2005<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jean Chrétien Khattar & Khattar (1973 to 1975, 1978 to 1982)
Nova Scotia Legal Aid (1975 to 1978)
Sole practitioner (1982 to 1985)
Family Court Judge (1985 to 1999)
Justice M. Clare MacLellan<ref name="family2002" /><ref name="FDappts">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Judicial Appointments justice.gc.ca</ref> Sydney 1999 – 2007 Jean Chrétien Nova Scotia Legal Aid (1977 to 1981)
Children's Aid Society (1988 to 1995)
Family Court Judge (1995 to 1999)

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Courts of Canada Template:Nova Scotia politics Template:Portal bar

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