Justice and Public Safety
May 15, 2017
Minister Parsons Congratulates New Supreme Court Justices
The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, today is congratulating two new Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Justices, Frances J. Knickle, QC and Sandra R. Chaytor, QC
Madam Justice Frances J. Knickle, Director of Public Prosecutions (Acting) with the Department of Justice and Public Safety, and Madam Justice Sandra R. Chaytor, a partner with Cox & Palmer, were appointed to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador on Friday, May 12.
Madam Justice Knickle, is appointed to the Trial Division in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. She will replace Mr. Justice C.R. Thompson, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective December 4, 2016.
Madam Justice Chaytor moves to the Trial Division in Grand Bank. She replaces Mr. Justice G.A. Handrigan, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective April 8, 2017.
Biographies of Madam Justice Knickle and Madam Justice Chaytor can be found in the backgrounder below.
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“On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I would like to congratulate Madam Justice Frances J. Knickle and Madam Justice Sandra R. Chaytor on their new roles. Both bring decades of experience with them from working in the justice system and the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador will benefit from their commitment and dedication to the practice of law.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General
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Learn more
Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador - www.court.nl.ca/supreme/
Government of Canada announces judicial appointments in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador - https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2017/05/government_of_canadaannouncesjudicialappointmentsintheprovinceof1.html
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Media contact
Lesley Clarke
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-6985, 699-2910
LesleyClarke@gov.nl.ca
Backgrounder
Biographies of Madam Justice Francis J. Knickle and Madam Justice Sandra R. Chaytor
Madam Justice Frances J. Knickle
Before pursuing a career in law, Madam Justice Frances J. Knickle studied music and theatre. She earned her B.A. in music from Acadia University and a law degree from Dalhousie University. Madam Justice Knickle articled with the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Justice and has worked with the Public Prosecution Division since being called to Bar in 1992.
After working many years as a Crown attorney, Madam Justice Knickle developed a specialty as an appellate attorney, which included several appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2013, she earned her Queen’s counsel designation. She also became a designated agent under Part VI of the Criminal Code. Her most recent role has been as Director of Public Prosecutions (Acting), where she has endeavoured to inspire excellence in the practice of criminal law.
Madam Justice Sandra R. Chaytor
Madam Justice Sandra R. Chaytor earned a Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. She has been a member of the Bar since 1989, has more than 25 years of experience practicing litigation at Cox & Palmer, and has served as Deputy Managing Partner of the firm’s St. John’s office.
Madam Justice Chaytor was appointed Queen’s counsel in 2007 and was named a Master and Taxing Officer of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2010. She was selected to serve as co-counsel to two public inquiries: the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing, which investigated errors in breast cancer testing, and more recently the Inquiry Respecting the Death of Donald Dunphy.
2017 05 15 2:20 p.m.