OTTAWA, September 26, 2003 -- The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment:

Joel E. Fichaud, Q.C., of Halifax is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia. He replaces the late Mr. Justice E.J. Flinn.

Mr. Justice Fichaud received a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie Law School in 1975, and a Masters of Laws from Harvard University in 1976. He was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society in 1977, and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1993.

At the time of his appointment, Mr. Justice Fichaud was partner with the firm Patterson Palmer in Halifax and was a litigator in the areas of constitutional and administrative law.
He has appeared before the trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as before various administrative tribunals.

Mr. Justice Fichaud is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and has been a member of several of its committees, including the Court of Appeal Liaison Committee. He is a frequent lecturer and the author of several publications dealing with constitutional law.

This appointment is effective immediately.

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Ref.:
Catherine Gagnaire
Press Secretary
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621