Minister appoints new Provincial Court Judge

Justice Minister and Attorney General Kelvin Parsons today announced the appointment of Timothy J. Chalker, Q.C., as a judge to the Provincial Court bench, Judicial Centre of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. He will replace Judge James Igloliorte, who has been appointed as a commissioner to the Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening our Place in Canada.

Mr. Chalker�s appointment is effective immediately.

"I am pleased to announce this appointment. Mr. Chalker will be an asset to the Provincial Court of Newfoundland," said Minister Parsons.

Mr. Chalker is a native of St. John�s and is the son of James R. Chalker and the late Margaret Chalker. He studied at Bishop�s College, St. John�s; Memorial University of Newfoundland (B.A. 1968) and Dalhousie Law School, Halifax (LL.B 1971). He was called to the Bar in 1971and was appointed to Queen�s Counsel in 1996.

Mr. Chalker taught business law at Memorial University for two years. He is a past bencher of the Law Society of Newfoundland, where he served as a member of the Trust Account Rules Committee, chairman of the Custodian Committee and Chairman of the Lawyer Referral Committee of the Law Society of Newfoundland. In June 2001, he was the recipient of the Law Society of Newfoundland Gordon M. Stirling Distinguished Service Award. He has also been the chairman of the Legal Aid Commission for Newfoundland and Labrador since 1992.

"I extend best wishes and congratulations to Mr. Chalker in his new position, " said the minister.

Mr. Chalker is married to Judy (nee Legge) and they have two children, Timothy and Meghan Chalker.

Media contact: Edwina Bateman, Communications, (709) 729-6985.

2002 04 29                        12:40 p.m.