BRITISH COLUMBIA JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, December 15, 2006 -- The Honourable Vic Toews, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable William B. Smart, Q.C., a partner with the law firm of Smart Harris & Martland, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. He replaces Mr. Justice J.D. Taylor (Vancouver/New Westminster) who passed away.

Mr. Justice Bill Smart received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia in 1975 and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1971 and was admitted to the Bar of British Columbia in 1976. He practised initially with the Attorney General of British Columbia and then with Doust Smith (1980-1988) before starting his own firm in 1988 which in 1991 became Smart & Williams. Mr. Justice Smart's practice expertise is in the area of criminal law (defence and Crown side) and administrative law. A former Olympian, he is a frequent lecturer and a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers.

The Honourable Gail M. Dickson, Q.C. , a partner with the law firm of Dickson Murray is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. She replaces Mr. Justice T.P. Warren (Vancouver) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Dickson received a Master of Laws in 1989 from Cambridge University and a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan both in 1981. She was admitted to the Bar of British Columbia in 1982 and the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1984 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1998. She has practised law with the Crown in British Columbia, with Legal Aid in Saskatchewan and with private firms in England and in Vancouver, most recently with Dickson Murray (1993 - 2006). Madam Justice Dickson's practice expertise is in the area of civil litigation. She is also a frequent lecturer and presenter on civil litigation matters and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

Mike Storeshaw
Director of Communications
Minister's Office
613-992-4621