Department of Justice

, May 8, 1996 -- The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Allan Rock, today announced the following appointments:

William Festeryga, Q.C., of Hamilton is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Toronto. He replaces Mr. Justice N.D. Coo, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Festeryga graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1962, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1964. He first practised with the firm of Shea and Callaghan in Hamilton. In 1968, he joined the firm of Sullivan, Sullivan, Festeryga, known today as Sullivan, Festeryga Lawlor & Arrell. Mr. Justice Festeryga has mainly practised civil litigation, and was certified as a specialist in that area by the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1988 and in 1993.

Mr. Justice Festeryga is a past director of the Advocates' Society and past president of the Hamilton Medical and Legal Society.

Emile R. Kruzick of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Brampton. He replaces the late Mr. Justice M.J. Fortier.

Mr. Justice Kruzick graduated in law from Dalhousie University in 1970, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1972. Mr. Justice Kruzick then joined the firm MacDonald and Ferrier, with whom he became a partner in 1974. In 1986, he became a partner of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt. Since 1993, Mr. Justice Kruzick has been a sole practitioner in Toronto. In 1995-96, he was appointed Dispute Resolution Officer of the Ontario Court (General Division). He has mainly practised in the area of family law.

Mr. Justice Kruzick has been involved with the Family Law Mentor Programme of the Law Society of Upper Canada since 1983. He has also been extensively involved with the Canadian Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Michael Robert Dambrot, Q.C., of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Toronto. He replaces Mr. Justice K.M. Gibson, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Dambrot graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1972, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1974. Until 1982, he acted as counsel for the Prosecution Section in the Toronto Regional Office of the Department of Justice. From 1982 to 1985, he was Senior Counsel, and then General Counsel and Prosecution Section Head, until 1988. Mr. Justice Dambrot then became Senior General Counsel and Director of Legal Services for Consumer and Corporate Affairs until 1990, when he became Senior General Counsel and Director for the Office of National Strategy for Drug Prosecutions.

Mr. Justice Dambrot has been Senior General Counsel for the Toronto Regional Office of the Department of Justice since 1994. He has been a frequent panelist and workshop leader for the National Criminal Law Program presented by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and dealing with substantive criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence and the Charter.

Mary Lou Benotto of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Toronto. She replaces Madam Justice H.J. Smith, who was appointed Associate Chief Justice.

Madam Justice Benotto graduated in law from McGill University in 1976, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1978. Madam Justice Benotto has been practising law with the firm Chapell, Bushell, Stewart since 1976, and has been a partner of that firm since 1985. She has practised civil litigation, and in recent years has mainly practised family law. Madam Justice Benotto has been Chair of the Toronto Bench and Bar Committee (Family Law) and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee of Court Reform since 1993. She has been Director of the Advocates' Society.

Madam Justice Benotto has published and lectured on the topics of income tax and family law.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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