OTTAWA, November 19, 2003 - The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

Michael L. Phelan of Ottawa, is appointed a judge of the Federal Court. He fills a newly created position.

Mr. Justice Phelan received a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University in 1971. He was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1973.

Since 1999, he was a partner with Ogilvy Renault. In the past, he has also been a partner with Osler Hoskin & Harcourt/Herridge Tolmie. He practiced in civil litigation and administrative law, and has appeared before all levels of the courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Mr. Justice Phelan is past Chairman of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Section of the International Bar Association, member of the International Commission of Jurists, Director of the Canadian Transportation Lawyers' Association, member of the Canadian Panel for Domestic Commercial Arbitrations, and Chair of the National Air and Space Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. He has lectured at Carleton University and is a frequent panellist in federal public law.

Anne L. Mactavish of Ottawa, is appointed a judge of the Federal Court. She fills a newly created position.

Madam Justice Mactavish received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick in 1980, and was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1982.

At the time of her appointment, she was Chairperson of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, a position she held since 1995. She was previously a partner with the Ottawa firm of Perley-Robertson, Panet, Hill and McDougall.

Madam Justice Mactavish is the author of several legal publications, member of Council of the Canadian section of the International Commission of Jurists, past member of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice and past President of the County of Carleton Law Association. She has lectured at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa, as well as at the Law Society of Upper Canada.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

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