Department of Justice

APPOINTMENT OF TWO SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES
TO THE NUNAVUT COURT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, March 24, 1999 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced two judicial appointments to the Nunavut Court of Justice. The Nunavut Court of Justice, a single-level trial court, will be composed of three Superior Court Judges resident in Iqaluit.

Madam Justice Beverley A. Browne of Iqaluit is appointed Senior Judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice, in Iqaluit. She fills a newly created position.

Madam Justice Browne graduated in Law from the University of Alberta in 1975 and was called to the Bar of Alberta and of the Northwest Territories in 1976. She first practised law with the firms of Wright, Chivers & Company and of Freeland, Royal, McCrum & Browne, in Edmonton. Prior to being appointed to the Northwest Territories Territorial Court in Iqaluit, in 1990, Madam Justice Browne had been a sole practitioner in Vermilion, since 1982.

Madam Justice Browne was appointed on January 11, 1999 to the Supreme Court of Nunavut, to become affective on April 1, 1999. As Bill C-57 was enacted on March 11th, 1999, thereby creating the Nunavut Court of Justice, Madam Justice Browne is appointed to this court as it's Senior Judge.

Robert G. Kilpatrick of Smithers British Columbia is appointed a judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice. He fills a newly created position.

Mr. Justice Kilpatrick graduated in Law from the University of British Columbia in 1980 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory in 1981. He was also called to the Bar of the Northwest Territories in 1992.

Mr. Justice Kilpatrick first practised law as a sole practitioner, in Whitehorse. From 1988 to 1992, he had a criminal defence practice with the firm of Kilpatrick, Austring and Farkvam, in Whitehorse. From 1992 to 1998, he was Crown Counsel with the Department of Justice of Canada, in Inuvik. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Mr. Justice Kilpatrick had been Crown Counsel with the Ministry of the Attorney General, in Smithers.

These appointments are effective April 1, 1999.

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