Department of Justice

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

Alan C. R. Whitten from Ancaster is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice (General Division) in Hamilton. He replaces Mr. Justice P.G. Philp who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Whitten graduated in Law from the Queen’s University, in 1972, and he was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1974. He obtained a Master of Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1986.

Mr. Justice Whitten first practised civil and criminal litigation in Owen Sound, with the firm of Salhany, Greenfield and Whitten, and then as a sole practitioner until 1985. During that period, he was also a Deputy Small Claims Court Judge. He was Assistant Crown Attorney for the Ministry of the Attorney General in Hamilton from 1985 to 1988. Before his appointment to the Bench, Mr Justice Whitten practised criminal law exclusively in Hamilton. He was certified a specialist in criminal law by the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1989 and in 1994.

Harriet E. Sachs from Toronto is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice (General Division) in Toronto. She replaces Madam Justice K. Feldman who was appointed to the Court of Appeal in June 1998.

Madam Justice Sachs graduated in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1974, and she was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976.

Madam Justice Sachs first practised law with the firm of Cornish, King and Sachs. Since 1986 she was a partner in the firm of Dickson, Sachs, Appel & Burton. Madam Justice Sachs has practised mainly family law, human rights law and Charter litigation.

Before her appointment, Madam Justice Sachs was Treasurer of the Advocates' Society and Assistant Editor of the Canadian Rights Reporter.

These appointments are effective immediately.

-30-

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