OTTAWA, March 12, 2004 - Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Susan E. Lang of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of Ontario. She replaces Mr. Justice J.J. Carthy who has elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Lang graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1974, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976. She was first appointed to the District Court of Ontario, now the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, in 1989. Prior to this, she had been a partner with Lang Ireland in Toronto.

In the past, Madam Justice Lang also served as Regional Senior Justice for the Toronto region. As well, she is a past President of the Ontario Superior Court Judges Association and of the Canadian Judges Conference.

The Honourable Russell Gordon Juriansz of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of Ontario. He replaces Mr. Justice M.A. Catzman who has elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Juriansz graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1972, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1974. He was first appointed to the Ontario Court (General Division), now the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, in 1998. He was President of the Ontario Superior Court Judges Association.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Mr. Justice Juriansz had been a sole practitioner and, before that, a partner with the Toronto firm of Blake, Cassels and Graydon. He had also held the position of General Counsel and Director of Legal Services with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The Honourable Warren K. Winkler of Toronto is appointed Regional Senior Justice for the Toronto Region. He replaces Mr. Justice Blair who was appointed to the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Justice Winkler graduated in law in 1962, and also earned a Masters in law in 1964, both from Osgoode Hall Law School. He was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1965, and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1977.

In 1993, he was appointed to the Ontario Court (General Division), now the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Prior to that, Mr. Justice Winkler was a partner with the Toronto firm of Winkler, Filion and Wakely.

Carolyn J. Horkins of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. She will be assigned to Toronto by the Chief Justice and will replace Mr. Justice W. Winkler who was appointed Regional Senior Justice.

Madam Justice Horkins graduated in law from the University of Windsor in 1980, and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1982.

Since 1989, she was a partner with the firm of Smith Lyons, which later merged with Gowling Lafleur Henderson, where she practiced in class actions, as well as professional, municipal and products liability.

Madam Justice Horkins is a past director of the Advocates Society. As well, she has taught law at the Bar Admission Course, at the faculty of law of the University of Toronto and at the LL.M. program of York University. She is the author of several legal articles.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

Denise Rudnicki
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice
(613) 992-4621