MANITOBA JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, July 17, 2002 -- The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Barbara Hamilton, a judge of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench is appointed a judge of the Manitoba Court of Appeal.  She replaces Mr. Justice G.J. Kroft who has elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Hamilton received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 1976.  She was appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench in 1995.

Martin H. Freedman, Q.C., of Winnipeg is appointed a judge of the Manitoba Court of Appeal.  He replaces Madam Justice B.M. Helper who resigned.

Mr. Justice Freedman received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 1963 and was the Gold Medal in Law for his class for both the University of Manitoba and the Law Society of Manitoba.  At the time of his appointment, he was a partner with the Winnipeg firm of Aikins MacAulay & Thorvaldson and served as the firm's Managing Partner from 1991-2001.  Throughout his career, he acquired a vast expertise in corporate-commercial law and arbitration-mediation matters.  In recent years, Mr. Justice Freedman had concentrated his practice on arbitration, especially in labour-related disputes in different jurisdictions throughout Canada.

Over the course of his legal career, Mr. Justice Freedman was very active in a wide range of professional organizations including having served as President (1978-1979) and Bencher (1971-1979) of the Law Society of Manitoba and as a Director of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada from 1981-1983.  For 20 years, he was a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba and a frequent presenter at numerous professional and continuing legal education seminars.  Mr. Justice Freedman was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1974.

John Scurfield, Q.C., of Winnipeg is appointed a judge of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench.  He replaces Madam Justice R. Krindle who resigned.

Mr. Justice Scurfield received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 1975 and was admitted to the Bar of Manitoba the following year.  Prior to his appointment, he was a partner with the Winnipeg firm of Scurfield, Tapper, Cuddy in civil litigation practicing in commercial litigation, employment law, administrative law,  personal injury claims and criminal law.  Throughout his career, Mr. Justice Scurfield has undertaken arbitration and mediation of commercial and labour disputes and has acted as commissioner or commission counsel on various inquiries.  He is a Past President and Life Bencher of the Manitoba Law Society.  Mr. Justice Scurfield was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1989.

Colleen Suche, Q.C., of Winnipeg is appointed a judge of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench.  She replaces Madam Justice Barbara Hamilton who has been appointed to the Manitoba Court of Appeal.

Madam Justice Suche received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 1979 and was admitted to the Bar of Manitoba the following year.  Throughout her legal career, her practice has been primarily in arbitration, mediation and human rights law.  She has extensive civil litigation experience and has appeared before and been a member of various administrative tribunals.  She has been very active with a variety of professional organizations including having served as President (1997-1998) and as Bencher (1990-1998) of the Law Society of Manitoba.  In 1999, she was named the Manitoba representative on the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.  Over the years, she has been a lecturer in civil procedure for the Bar Admission Course of the Law Society of Manitoba.  Madam Justice Suche was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1990.

Marilyn E. Goldberg, Q.C., of Winnipeg is appointed a judge of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench - Family Division.  She replaces Mr. Justice J.A. Duncan who has elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Goldberg received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 1972 and was admitted to the Bar of Manitoba the following year.  She was appointed a Master of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench in Winnipeg in 1984 where, at the time of her appointment, she was Senior Master of that court.  In that position, Madam Justice Goldberg was responsible for cases involving family law including business and property valuation, bankruptcy matters, civil procedure and rules of court as well as estates and trust matters.  Over the years, she has been a frequent presenter at various continuing legal education and bar admission programs. Madam Justice Goldberg was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1984.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

Chantal Proulx
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621