FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

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OTTAWA

, June 25, 1998 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Mr. Justice John D. Richard, a judge of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, is appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada. He replaces the Honourable J.A. Jerome, who has resigned.

Associate Chief Justice Richard graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1959. He received a Licentiate in political and social sciences from the Louvain University (Belgium) in 1960.

Prior to his appointment to the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, in August 1994, Associate Chief Justice Richard had practised law in Ottawa, with the firm Gowling, Strathy & Henderson from 1960 until 1988, and then with the firm Lang, Michener.

The Honourable Mr. Justice Marc Noël, a judge of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, is appointed a judge of the Federal Court, Appeal Division. He replaces Mr. Justice J. Hugessen.

Mr. Justice Noël graduated from the University of Ottawa with a LL.L. in 1973 and a LL.B. in 1974. He was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1976 and of Ontario in 1980. Prior to his appointment to the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, in 1992, Mr. Justice Noël practised law in Montreal with the firm of Bennett, Jones, Verchere.

The Honourable Mr. Justice James Hugessen, a judge of the Federal Court of Canada, Appeal Division, is appointed a judge of the Federal Court, Trial Division. He replaces Mr. Justice Marc Noël.

Mr. Justice Hugessen graduated in law from McGill University in 1957, and was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1958. Prior to his appointment to the Federal Court of Canada, Appeal Division, in 1983, Mr. Justice Hugessen had been Associate Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec since 1973 and a judge of that Court since 1972. Justice Hugessen practised law with the Montreal firm known then as Laing, Weldon, Courtois, Clarkson, Parsons, Gontier and Tétrault.

J. Edgar Sexton, QC, of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Canada, Appeal Division. He replaces Mr. Justice M. MacGuigan, who passed away.

Mr. Justice Sexton received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Queen's University in 1959 and a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1962. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1964, to the Bar of New Brunswick in 1979 and to the Bar of Alberta in 1985.

Mr. Justice Sexton has had a litigation practice with the firm of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, in Toronto. He was certified as a specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Upper Canada.

The Honourable Pierre Blais of Quebec is appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division. He replaces Mr. Justice B. Cullen, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Blais graduated in law from Université Laval in 1976, and was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1977. Prior to his appointment to the Bench, Mr. Justice Blais had been practising law with the firm Langlois, Robert, in Quebec City since 1993. From 1976 to 1984, he had practised law with the firm Lemieux, Blais, in Montmagny.

Mr. Justice Blais was Member of Parliament for Bellechasse from 1984 to 1993. He was also, at various times during this period, Minister of State for Agriculture, Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Solicitor General of Canada, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and President of the Privy Council.

These appointments are effective immediately.

John Maxwell Evans of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division. He replaces Mr. Justice J.D. Richard, who was appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Court.

Mr. Justice Evans graduated from the University of Oxford with a B.A. in 1964 and a B.C.L. in 1965. He was admitted to the Law Society of Ontario in 1979.

Prior to his appointment to the Court, Mr. Justice Evans was a professor of administrative law at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he had been since 1975. He was also Associate Dean of that faculty from 1982 to 1985. Mr. Justice Evans has been a consultant on administrative law to provincial and federal agencies, departments and tribunals, as well as to private law firms. Mr. Justice Evans has published extensively on the subject of administrative law.

This appointment is effective June 26, 1998.

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


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