Department of Justice

, March 20, 1996 -- The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Allan Rock, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Madam Justice Carol M. Huddart of Vancouver, is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of British Columbia. She replaces Mr. Justice Joshia Woods who resigned.

Madam Justice Huddart graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1963 and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1965 and to the Bar of British Columbia in 1975. She practised law with the firm of Bickler, Fast, Brown, Smith & Huddart, in Victoria before being appointed to the County Court of Vancouver in 1981 and to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1987.

Madam Justice Huddart is currently President of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice.

Frank Cole of Vernon, is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver. He fills a newly created position.

Mr. Justice Cole graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1970 and was admitted to the Bar of British Columbia in 1971. He then joined the firm of Davidson and Company in Vernon. Since 1985, Mr. Justice Cole has been a partner with the firm of Sigalet, Maguire & Cole, in Vernon where he has practised general litigation. He has been Director of the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia and President of the Vernon Bar Association.

These appointments are effective immediately.

The Honourable Mr. Justice Mark M. de Weerdt of Yellowknife is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in New Westminster. He fills a newly created position.

Mr. Justice de Weerdt graduated in law from the University of British Columbia in 1955 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1956 and to the Bar of the Northwest Territories in 1958. Mr. Justice de Weerdt practised law in Yellowknife with the firm of de Weerdt, Seale & Finall. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories in 1981, Justice de Weerdt was Regional Director and General Counsel for the Vancouver Office of the Department of Justice.

Mr. Justice de Weerdt has been Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories since 1981. He has also been, as ex officio judge of the Supreme Court of the Yukon Territory, a justice of the Appeal Courts of the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory, since 1981. He was appointed to the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada in 1995.

This appointment is effective April 8, 1996.

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