ONTARIO JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, June 4, 2002 – The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

Paul S. Rouleau of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice and will be assigned by the Chief Justice to Toronto. He replaces Mr. Justice Paul S.A. Lamek who passed away.

Mr. Justice Rouleau received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa in 1977, and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1979. He also holds a Masters of Law in Business Law from York University. At the time of his appointment, Mr. Justice Rouleau was a partner with the Toronto firm of Heenan Blaikie practising primarily in the area of education law. He has experience before both the trial and appellate courts as well as various administrative tribunals. Mr. Justice Rouleau is a founding member of l'Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario and served as President of that organization from 1985-1987.

Robert J. Smith of Hawkesbury is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice and will be assigned by the Chief Justice to the Eastern Region. He replaces Mr. Justice Robert J. Cusson who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Smith received a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University in 1977, and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1979. At the time of his appointment, Mr. Justice Smith was in general practice in Hawkesbury practising primarily in commercial litigation and class action matters. He has experience as well in a broad range of matters including real estate and mortgages, wills and estates and family law. He has appeared before both the trial and appellate courts and various administrative tribunals. He is a member of l'Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario and has been very active with the Canadian Bar Association-Ontario Branch.

C. Anne Bain of St. Catharines is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice and will be assigned by the Chief Justice to Welland. She replaces Mr. Justice Jean-Jacques Fleury who resigned.

Madam Justice Bain received a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University in 1979, and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1981. At the time of her appointment, she was a partner with the firm of Sullivan, Mahoney LLP in the Niagara Peninsula. She practiced primarily in the area of corporate-commercial law with emphasis on banking and insolvency, security and real estate law. During her career, Madam Justice Bain has also acquired a range of experience in other areas including franchise law, business law and leasing security and construction law. She is a member of the Lincoln County Law Association and the Canadian Bar Association.

Michelle Fuerst of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice and will be assigned by the Chief Justice to Newmarket. She replaces Mr. Justice John H. Jenkins, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Fuerst received a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1979, and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1981. Prior to her appointment, Madam Justice Fuerst was with the Toronto firm of Gold & Fuerst practicing exclusively in criminal and quasi-criminal litigation. She has appeared in both the trial and appellate courts as well as before various administrative tribunals. At the time of her appointment, Madam Justice Fuerst was the President of the Criminal Lawyers' Association. She is a Past President of the Canadian Bar Association-Ontario Branch.

Johanne N. Morissette of Rockland is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice and will be assigned by the Chief Justice to London. She replaces Madam Justice Eileen E. Gillese who was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Madam Justice Morissette received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa in 1982, and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1985. At the time of her appointment she was in sole practice specializing in family law and mediation. In 1998, Madam Justice Morissette was appointed a Deputy Judge of the Small Claims for the East Region. She was appointed an Adjudicator of the Board of Inquiry (Human Rights Code of Ontario) in 2001. For the past several years, she was a lecturer in Family Law for the Bar Admission Course of the Law Society of Upper Canada. She is a member of l'Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario and is Immediate Past President of the County and District Presidents' Association (CDLAP).

Edward Ducharme of Windsor is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice and will be assigned by the Chief Justice to Chatham. He replaces Mr. Justice Terrence Patterson who was transferred to Windsor to replace Mr. Justice A.E. Cusinato who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Ducharme received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor in 1985. He also holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in English from the University of Windsor as well as a Ph.D. in English and Education from the University of Michigan. At the time of his appointment, Mr. Justice Ducharme was a partner with the Windsor firm of Ducharme Fox LLP practicing primarily in employment and labour relations, conducting collective bargaining negotiations and workplace mediations. Since 1999, Mr. Justice Ducharme has served as a Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario and at the time of his appointment, was Chair of the Admissions Committee and Chair of the Task Force on the Continuum of Legal Education in Ontario.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.: Suzanne Thébarge
Director of Communications
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621