SASKATCHEWAN JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, December 16, 2002 -- The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

R. Shawn Smith, Q.C., of Regina is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan and will be assigned by Chief Justice F.W. Gerein to the Family Division in Saskatoon. He replaces Mr. Justice E.C. Malone who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Smith received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan in 1975, and was admitted to the Law Society of Saskatchewan in 1976. He began practice with the Regina firm of McDougall, Ready (now known as McDougall Gauley) and, at the time of his appointment, was a partner in the Regina office of that firm practicing primarily in corporate-commercial law. He also has extensive experience in commercial litigation and has appeared before all levels of the courts in Saskatchewan as well as before various administrative tribunals.

Mr. Justice Smith is a former Bencher and a past President of the Law Society of Saskatchewan. Throughout his career, he has been very active with various professional and legal education programs. Mr. Justice Smith was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1996.

Donna L. Wilson, Q.C., of Saskatoon is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan and will be assigned by Chief Justice F.W. Gerein to the Family Division in Regina. She replaces Mr. Justice G.A. Maurice who resigned.

Madam Justice Wilson received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan in 1985, and was admitted to the Law Society of Saskatchewan in 1986. Prior to her appointment, Madam Justice Wilson was a partner with the Saskatoon firm of Woloshyn & Company practicing exclusively in the area of family law.

Madam Justice Wilson has been very active in various professional organizations and served as Chair of the Family Law (North) Section of the Canadian Bar Association-Saskatchewan Branch. In 2000, she was elected a Bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan, a position she held at the time of her appointment. She has been a frequent lecturer and presenter at the Bar Admission Course of the Law Society of Saskatchewan and for the Saskatchewan Legal Education Society. Madam Justice Wilson was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2001.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

Mike Murphy
Special Assistant - Communications
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621