Department of Justice

ONTARIO JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

, February 21, 1996 -- The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Allan Rock, today announced the following appointments:

Roydon Kealey, Q.C., of Ottawa is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Ottawa. He replaces Madam Justice L. Charron, who was appointed to the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Justice Kealey graduated in law from the University of Ottawa in 1962, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1964. He then joined the firm of Hughes, Laisley, Mullen and Touhey. From 1970 to 1973, he practised law with the firm of Nicol, O'Connor & Kealey. He has since been practising general litigation with the firm Kealey and Kealey.

From 1962 to 1977, Mr. Justice Kealey has lectured at the University of Ottawa in legal accounting and criminal procedure and at the Bar Admission Course in civil procedures. He is a member of the Advocates' Society.

Colin McKinnon, Q.C., of Ottawa is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Ottawa. He replaces Mr. Justice H. Poulin, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice McKinnon graduated in law from the University of Ottawa in 1968, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1970. He served as an Assistant Crown Attorney for Ottawa-Carleton until 1972, and as a part-time Assistant until 1981. He also served as a Special Agent for Criminal Prosecution for the Attorney General of Canada, from 1972 to 1975. Mr. Justice McKinnon has been practising civil and criminal litigation since 1973 with the firm known today as Beament, Green, Dust. He has also been, on occasion, Special Counsel to the Government of Great Britain.

Mr. Justice McKinnon was certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in civil and criminal litigation in 1990. He has been a frequent lecturer on criminal and civil litigation issues. He has been active with the Law Society of Upper Canada, where he has been a Bencher since 1987. He was Founding Director of the Thomas More Lawyers' Guild of Ottawa in 1983, and Director of the Medical-Legal Society of Ottawa-Carleton from 1984 to 1988. Since 1988, he has been Director of the Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History. Mr. Justice McKinnon has also been a member of the Advocates' Society and of the Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario.

Robert Merrill Thompson of Brantford is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Owen Sound. He replaces Mr. Justice E.F. West, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Thompson graduated in law from the University of Western Ontario in 1972, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1974. Mr. Justice Thompson has since been practising law in Brantford with the firm of Boddy, Ryerson, with whom he is a partner. He has practised extensively in the areas of criminal, family and civil law. Mr. Justice Thompson has been serving as Special Prosecutor for the federal government since 1974.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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