Department of Justice

OTTAWA, May 27, 1998 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

Clyde Kirby Wells of St. John's is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland. He replaces Mr. Justice G.L. Steele, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Wells graduated in law from Dalhousie University in 1962, and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1963 and the Newfoundland Bar in 1964. Mr. Justice Wells practised law in Corner Brook, from 1964 to 1981, and then in St. John's until 1987. His area of practice was primarily civil and criminal litigation. Since 1996, Mr. Justice Wells has been practising law with the firm of O'Reilly, Noseworthy. Mr. Justice Wells has also been a Bencher of the Law Society of Newfoundland.

In 1966, Mr. Justice Wells was first elected to the House of Assembly, where he remained until 1971, serving as Minister of Labour from 1966 to 1968. He was Leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland from 1987 to 1989 and Premier of Newfoundland from 1989 to 1996, as well as Acting Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Newfoundland in 1995.

This appointment is effective immediately.

James Douglas Cook, Q.C., of St. John's is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland, Trial Division, in St. John's. He fills a newly created position on the Unified Family Court.

Mr. Justice Cook graduated in law from Dalhousie University in 1970, and was admitted to the Bar of Newfoundland. Mr. Justice Cook practised law with the firm Lewis, Day, Sparkes, Cook & Sheppard, and, from 1992, with the firm Chalker, Green & Rowe Stirling. He has had a general practice with emphasis on corporate and commercial law and quasi-judicial matters. Mr. Justice Cook has been Chairperson of the Newfoundland Mineral Rights Adjudication Board, of the Medical Care Commission Appeal Committee, and of the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal. He was also a Bencher of the Law Society from 1978 to 1982.

This appointment is effective May 28, 1998.

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