Department of Justice

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

Richard Grenier of Sillery is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the District of Quebec. He replaces Mr. Justice A. Gervais who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Grenier graduated in law from Laval University in 1971 and was called to the Quebec bar in 1972.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Mr. Justice Grenier practised criminal law with the firm of Grenier, Linteau, Petit. Mr. Justice Grenier is a past president of the Association des avocats de la défense du Québec. He has also taught criminal law at the École du Barreau du Québec.

Jacques Dufresne of Ste-Hyacinthe is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the District of Montreal. He replaces Mr. Justice J.H. Gomery who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Dufresne received a Licentiate in Laws from the University of Sherbrooke in 1972, and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1974. He subsequently practiced law with the firms Blanshay, Blanshay and Corbeil, Groleau and Dufresne. Since 1988, he has been a partner in the Montreal firm Ogilvy, Renault, where he has practiced mainly civil law, administrative law and criminal law.

Julien Lanctôt of Ville Mont Royal is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the District of Montreal. He replaces Mr. Justice J. Legault who passed away.

Mr. Justice Lanctôt obtained a Licentiate in Laws from the University of Montreal in 1975 and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1976. He then joined the firm of Guertin, Gagnon, Lafleur. From 1977 to 1980, he practised law in the legal department of the National Bank of Canada. Since then, he has practised civil, real estate, banking and municipal law with the firm of McCarthy, Tétrault.

Hélène Poulin of Bedford is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the District of Montreal. She replaces Mr. Justice R. Hurtubise who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Poulin obtained a Licentiate in Laws from the University of Sherbrooke in 1980 and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1982. She began the practise of law with the Centre communautaire juridique in Sherbrooke and subsequently practised municipal law with the firm of Monty, Coulombe in Sherbrooke. Since 1989, Madam Justice Poulin has been practising civil law with the firm of Paradis, Poulin and in 1993 was appointed a municipal court judge for Granby. In 1997, she served as president of the Conférence des juges municipaux. Before practising law, Madam Justice Poulin was a teacher.

Suzanne Courteau, of Brossard is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, for the District of Montreal. She replaces Mr. Justice V. Melançon who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Courteau graduated in law from the University of Montreal in 1981 and was called to the Quebec bar in 1982. She initially practised law with the firm of Vermette, Dunton, Dewever, Caron & Rainville. Since 1985, Madam Justice Courteau has been practising law with the firm of Desjardins, Ducharme, Stein, Monast, where she has been a partner since 1992. Madam Justice Courteau has practised mainly civil and commercial litigation, and medical and professional liability. Madam Justice Courteau has been active in the Barreau du Québec and the Barreau de Montréal.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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