OTTAWA , September 17, 2004 -- Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment:

Benjamin B. Taylor, Q.C., of Summerside is appointed a judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. He replaces the Honourable Jacqueline R. Matheson who is appointed Chief Justice of the same court.

Mr. Justice Taylor received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick in 1974, and was admitted to the Prince Edward Island Bar in 1975. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1987.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Justice Taylor was a senior partner in the firm of Taylor, McLellan, formerly known as Campbell, McEwen, Taylor, McLellan, where he practised primarily in the area of civil litigation. He has twice been President of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, is a founding representative of the Canadian Lawyers' Insurance Association and is President and co-founder of the Atlantic Provinces Trial Lawyers Association. He has been chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal and instructor of the Bar admission course. He is also the author of several legal articles.

This appointment is effective immediately.

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Ref.:

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