Department of Justice

ONTARIO JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, October 31, 2001 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

George Patrick Smith of Thunder Bay is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Thunder Bay. He replaces Mr. Justice L.C. Kozak who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Smith received a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from University of Western Ontario in 1974. He articled with the Ottawa firm of Nelligan, Power and began practice the following year in Thunder Bay. At the time of his appointment, he was a partner with Buset & Partners where he practiced primarily in the area of family law. He has extensive experience in civil litigation and alternate dispute resolution and mediation.

Since 1990, Mr. Justice Smith served as a Deputy Judge for the Ontario Small Claims Court. He has been active in local professional organizations and is the Past President of the Thunder Bay Law Association.

Helen M. Pierce of Sault Ste. Marie is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Thunder Bay. She replaces Mr. Justice R.E. Zelinski who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Pierce received a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Western Ontario (Dean's Honour List) in 1975 and a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University in 1980. She was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1982 and began general practice in Sault Ste. Marie. Over the last several years, Madam Justice Pierce has acquired extensive family law experience including handling child protection matters for the Children's Aid Society and Nog-da-win-da-min, a native family services agency in Sault Ste. Marie.

At the time of her appointment, Madam Justice Pierce was President of the Algoma District Law Association. She has been a Sessional Lecturer in public law matters at Algoma University College in Sault Ste. Marie and has made various presentations on legal issues to community organizations. In 2001, Madam Justice Pierce was appointed by the Law Society of Upper Canada to serve on the Chief Justice of Ontario's Committee on Professionalism.

Robert L. Maranger of Sudbury is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Ottawa. He replaces Mr. Justice R.C. Desmarais who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Maranger received a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Ottawa University in 1984 and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario the following year. He began practice with the Sudbury firm of Dumont, McAndrew in general litigation practice. In 1995, he opened the Robert L. Maranger Law Office practicing primarily in the area of family law and personal injury litigation with some work in criminal prosecutions.

During his years in pratice Mr. Justice Maranger presented his cases in both French and English. He has held various positions on the Executive Board of the Sudbury District Law Association including having served as President of that organization from 1996 to 1997.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

Farah Mohamed
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621