Department of Justice

JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS IN QUEBEC

OTTAWA, June 7, 2000 - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced today the following appointments:

The Honourable François Pelletier, judge of the Superior Court of Québec, District of Quebec is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of Quebec, District of Quebec. He replaces Mr. Justice Jacques Delisle who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Pelletier received his LL.B. from l'Université de Laval in 1969, and was admitted to the Quebec Bar the following year. Prior to his appointment to the Superior Court of Quebec in 1997, he practised with the firm of Pouliot, L'Écuyer in Ste-Foy.

Joel Avery Silcoff, of Montreal is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, District of Montreal. He replaces Mr. Justice P. Pinard who has resigned.

In 1967, Mr. Justice Silcoff received a BCL from McGill University as well as an MBA from Columbia University (New York). He was admitted to the Quebec Bar the following year. At the time of his appointment, he was a partner of Pouliot Mercure in Montreal and a member of the firm's international affiliation, Cassels Pouliot Douglas Noriega.

Throughout his career, Mr. Justice Silcoff practised primarily in the field of corporate and commercial law. He also has extensive litigation experience, including numerous appearances before all levels of the courts and various commissions of inquiry.

Michèle Lacroix, of Quebec is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, District of Quebec. She replaces Mr. Justice Rochette who was appointed to the Court of Appeal of Quebec.

Madame Justice Lacroix received her LL.B. from l'Université Laval in 1979, and was admitted to the Quebec Bar the following year. At the time of her appointment, she was with the firm of Pouliot, L'Écuyer in Quebec practising primarily in the field of family law. She is a member of various professional organizations including the Canadian Bar Association and is the Vice President of le Comité consultatif de la formation permanente du barreau.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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