ONTARIO JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, October 13, 1999 - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Mr. Justice Robert A. Blair of Toronto is appointed Regional Senior Judge of the Superior Court of Justice for the Toronto Region. He replaces the Honourable Madam Justice Susan E. Lang of Toronto, who has resigned from that position and been reappointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice.

Mr. Justice Blair received his LL.B. from the University of Toronto and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1970. He practised law in Toronto until he was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice (General Division) in 1991. He has been an active member of the Advocates’ Society and the Canadian Bar Association. Mr. Justice Blair was co-chair of the Civil Justice Review, a task force established to make recommendations on the reform of the civil justice system in Ontario, many of which formed the basis of such innovations as mediation and case management.

Madam Justice Lang received her LL.B. from Osgoode Hall, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976. Before being appointed to the District Court of Ontario in 1989, Madam Justice Lang practiced law in Toronto. She was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice (General Division) in 1990 and became Regional Senior Justice in 1996.

The Honourable Madam Justice Janet M. Simmons of Brampton is appointed Regional Senior Judge of the Superior Court of Justice for the Central West Region. She replaces the Honourable Mr. Justice James D. Carnwath of Milton, who has resigned from that position and been reappointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice.

Madam Justice Simmons received her LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1979. Prior to her appointment to the Ontario Court of Justice (Provincial Division) in 1990, Madam Justice Simmons practised law in Brampton. Madam Justice Simmons has carried out administrative duties in Brampton as assigned by the Regional Senior Judge during the past five years. She has also served as a Director of the Superior Court Judges Association.

Mr. Justice Carnwath received his LL.B. from the University of Toronto, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1962. He practised law in Woodstock and was also a bencher for the Law Society of Upper Canada before being appointed Senior Judge for the District Court of Ontario in 1980. He was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice (General Division) in 1990, and became Regional Senior Justice of the Central West Region in 1994.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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