NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, April 2, 2007 - The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Mr. Justice Leo Barry , a judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. He replaces Mr. Justice D.M. Roberts ( St. John’s) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Leo Barry received a Bachelor of Laws in 1967 from Dalhousie Law School and a Master of Laws (specialization in Jurisprudence and International Law) in 1968 from Yale Law School and was admitted to the Bar of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1969. Mr. Justice Barry also has received a Master of Philosophy in 2005, a Bachelor of Arts in 1963 and a Bachelor of Science in 1962, all from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland in 1989, he was a practising lawyer in St. John’s, Chairman of the Labour Relations Board, a law professor at Dalhousie University and a member of the legislature of Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Justice Barry’s practice expertise covers a broad spectrum of legal issues and includes constitutional, administrative and corporate law. He is a frequent author and presenter to judges through the activities of the National Judicial Institute and to legal audiences through the activities of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice.

The Honourable Madam Justice Deborah E. Fry, a lawyer with Clarke & Fry, and a principal with the Centre for Innovation Dispute Resolution in St. John’s, is appointed a judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. She replaces Mr. Justice S.B. O’Regan ( St. John’s) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Deborah Fry received a Bachelor of Laws (with Distinction) in 1980 and a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) in 1973, both from University of Saskatchewan and was admitted to the Bar of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1981. Her practice expertise is in the areas of mediation and alternate dispute resolution, public policy law, administrative law and constitutional law. Madam Justice Fry has held several civil service posts in Newfoundland and has since 2004 returned to private practice. She has acted as Chair of the Newfoundland Employment Equity Council and President of the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation. She has also acted as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Stella Burry Foundation and has been awarded the YMCA & YWCA St. John’s Women of Distinction Award.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:
Geneviève Breton
Director of Communications
Minister’s Office
613-992-4621