Department of Justice

OTTAWA, November 18, 1998 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

R. Dennis Maher, Q.C. of North Battleford is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan in Prince Albert. He replaces Madam Justice A.R. Rothery, who replaced Mr. Justice J.D. Milliken, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Maher graduated in Law from the University of Saskatchewan in 1966 and was called to the bars of Saskatchewan and British Columbia in 1967 and in 1977, respectively.

Mr. Justice Maher first practised law with the firm of Shury & Miller. Since 1969, he has practised general law with an emphasis in family law with the firm of Maher, Lindgren, Blais & Frank, in North Battleford and Hafford. Mr. Justice Maher also has extensive experience in arbitration and mediation.

Mr. Justice Maher was elected a Bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan in 1997 and has held many positions in the Saskatchewan Branch of the Canadian Bar Association.

Gerald M. Kraus Q.C. of Regina is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He replaces Madam Justice P.M. Blacklock Linn who resigned. (Madam Justice P.M. Blacklock Linn passed away in March of this year.)

Mr. Justice Kraus graduated in Law from the University of Saskatchewan and was called to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1971. He also has been a member of the Bar of Alberta since 1987 and the Bar of British Columbia since 1991. Mr. Justice Kraus has been practising law with the firm of Kraus, McKay, Pederson in Regina. He has practised mainly insurance law, health law, labour law and civil litigation. Mr. Justice Kraus is a former a president of the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

Lynn B. Macdonald of Radville is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Saskatchewan in Moose Jaw. She replaces Mr. Justice R.A. MacLean who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Macdonald graduated in Law from the University of Saskatchewan in 1974 and was called to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1975.

Madam Justice Macdonald first practised law with the firm of Wimmer, Toews. Since 1976, she has had a general practise with the firm of Macdonald and Company, in Weyburne and Radville. Madam Justice Macdonald was President of the Law Society of Saskatchewan, until her appointment to the Bench.

Frederick J. Kovach of Regina is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan in Estevan/Weyburne. He replaces Mr. Justice G.N. Allbright, who replaced Mr. Justice P. Hrabinsky, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr Justice Kovach graduated in Law from the University of Saskatchewan in 1975 and was called to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1976.

Mr Justice Kovach first practised law with the firm of Woloshyn & Cawood and then joined the Attorney General of Saskatchewan's Office of Public Prosecutions in Saskatoon. Since 1978, he has been practising criminal law, quasi-criminal law and administrative law with the firm of MacPherson, Leslie & Tyerman in Regina.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref. :      Johanne Senécal
            Minister’s Office
            (613) 992-4621