OTTAWA, September 27, 2004 - Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Julie Dutil of Quebec, is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of Quebec. She replaces Mr. Justice P.A. Gendreau, who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Dutil obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Laval University in 1979, and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1980. She is a Justice of the Quebec Superior Court since 1996. Before being appointed to the bench, she had been a partner with the firm of Grondin Poudrier Bernier in Quebec city, and practiced mostly in labour law and administrative law. She had also been a part-time member of the RCMP Public Complaints Commission. Madam Justice Dutil is the author of several legal publications.

Marie-France Bich of Montreal, is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of Quebec. She replaces Mr. Justice M. Proulx who resigned.

Madam Justice Bich obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Montréal in 1977, and a Masters of Law from Harvard University in 1980. She was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1978. She is a titular professor at the Faculty of Law of Montreal University since 1983, and teaches mostly in labour law. She has been Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Secretary of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. As well, she does arbitration in both the private and public sectors.

Prior to her appointment, Madam Justice Bich was Chair of the Labour Law Committee of the Quebec Bar. In the past, she has been a member of the Professional Training Committee of the Quebec Bar. She is the author of several legal publications.

Claude Auclair of St-Jérôme, is appointed a judge of the Quebec Superior Court, district of Montreal. He replaces Mr. Justice R. Tremblay who resigned.

Mr. Justice Auclair obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Montreal University in 1975, and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1976. He also received a diplôme d'études spécialisées in labour law from Montreal University.

Prior to his appointment, he was Chief Executive Officer and responsible for operations at the firm of Prévost Auclair Fortin D'Aoust, where he practiced mostly in the areas of banking and insolvency law, as well as labour law. Mr. Justice Auclair has appeared before all levels of the courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as before various administrative tribunals.

In the past, he has acted as syndic ad hoc for the Quebec Bar, and has been a member of the Corporation de services of the Quebec Bar. As well, he is a former Bâtonnier and Treasurer of the Laurentides-Lanaudière Bar, and former member of the General Council of the Quebec Bar.

Richard Wagner of Montréal, is appointed a judge of the Quebec Superior Court, district of Montreal. He replaces Mr. Justice M.E. Lagacé who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Wagner obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa in 1979, and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1980. Prior to his appointment, he was a partner at the firm of Lavery de Billy, where he practiced as a litigator in both civil and commercial law. He has appeared before all levels of the courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He is also accredited as a Mediator by the Quebec Bar and the Superior Court of Quebec.

During his career, he has been Bâtonnier of Montréal, Governor of the Fondation du Barreau du Québec, Fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Law Lawyers and Vice-President of the Centre d'accès à l'information juridique. He has also taught at the Quebec Bar admission school and is a frequent lecturer.

Gaétan Dumas of Sherbrooke, is appointed a judge of the Quebec Superior Court, district of St-François. He replaces Mr. Justice P. Boily who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Dumas obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa in 1981, and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1983. Since 1999, he has been a partner with the firm of Després Dumas. In the past, he has also practiced with the firm of Daigle Bernatchez Dumas as well as with Hackett Campbell Bouchard.

Mr. Justice Dumas is a former Bâtonnier of St-François and former member of the General Council of the Quebec Bar.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

Mylène Dupéré
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
(613) 992-4621