Queen's Counsel appointments

Kelvin Parsons, Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Newfoundland and Labrador, is pleased to announce the Lieutenant-Governor in Council has appointed 15 lawyers as Queen's Counsel. They are: Barry Learmonth, Dennis MacKay, David Eaton, Gerard G. Griffin, Arnold W. Hussey, William J. Gallant, Reg Locke, William A. Collins, Janet M. Henley-Andrews, Wynne Anne Trahey, Ruth K. Wakeham, Robert B. Andrews, Robert E. Simmonds, Paul R. Stokes and Edward J. Shortall.

Barry Learmonth attended the from University of Montreal from 1967 to 1971 and graduated with a B.A. Cum Laude (honours). He attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from 1973 to 1976, and was awarded a LL.B degree. Mr. Learmonth was admitted to the Bar on April 7, 1977, and currently practices law with Learmonth, Dunne & Clarke in St. John's.

Dennis MacKay graduated from Dalhousie University in 1981 and entered practice with Donald MacBeth in Marystown until 1984. He was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in April 1982. He currently works with the Newfoundland Legal Aid Commission.

David Eaton graduated from Queen's University in May 1980, with a LL.B degree. He was called to the Newfoundland Bar in December 1980. He articled with David C. Day, Q.C. at Lewis Day Cook et al from 1980 to 1991. He currently practices with Chalker, Green & Rowe, which is now McInnes Cooper since merging in January 2000.

Gerard Griffin attended Memorial University in 1963 and obtained a forestry diploma. He graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1973 with a bachelor of science in forestry and graduated from the same university with a masters in forestry in 1979. He graduated from the University of Windsor, Ontario, with his law degree in 1982 and was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1982.

Arnold Hussey attended Mount Allison University and graduated with an honours degree in history. He then moved on to the University of New Brunswick where he graduated from law school in 1979. He articled with the law firm of Mills and Dymond and was admitted to the Bar in 1980. He is now a partner in the firm, Mills, Hussey & Pittman in Clarenville.

William Gallant graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1979 with a LL.B degree, the Loyla College, Montreal, in 1973 with a B.Comm, and received a diploma in engineering from Memorial University in 1964. He was called to the Newfoundland Bar in April 1980, and the Nova Scotia Bar in April 1999. He currently holds a position as a staff lawyer with the Newfoundland Legal Aid Commission. 

Reg Locke, son of the late Ernest and Clara Locke, attended St. Michael's High School, St. F.X. and Memorial Universities and U.N.B. Law School. He was called to the Bar in December 1972. He has practiced law with the Department of Justice since 1982, where he is a senior solicitor and has appeared in several major litigation matters.

William Collins is a graduate of St. F.X. and Dalhousie Law School and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1972. He is principal of Collins & Associates and carries out an extensive practice in criminal and civil litigation. He is the past president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Association and has served two terms as a commissioner with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. 

Janet Henley-Andrews graduated from Memorial University in 1977 with a bachelor of arts (mathematics/statistics) and the University of Toronto with a bachelor of laws in 1980. She was called the Bar in December 1980; joined Stirling, Ryan (now Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales), St. John's, as an articled clerk in June 1980; was hired as an associate lawyer in December 1980; and was admitted to a partnership in February 1985. 

Wynne Anne Trahey obtained a BA from Dalhousie University and her law degree from Osgoode Hall in 1982. She articled with the firm Marshall, White, Ottenheimer and Green and was called to the Bar in December 1982. At present she is a Crown attorney in St. John's.

Ruth Wakeham studied law at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. She articled under Margaret Cameron, now Madam Justice Cameron of the Court of Appeal. She was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1979. Ms. Wakeham was the first full time Crown attorney in Labrador and was the first female to appear for the Crown before a jury. She was called to the Bar in Alberta in 1987 and practised there for a year. Ms. Wakeham is currently in practice at the Crown attorney's office in St. John's.

Robert Andrews graduated from Memorial University in May 1971, with a bachelor of commerce (honours) and Dalhousie University in May 1974, with a bachelor of laws. He was called to the Newfoundland Bar in December 1974. Mr. Andrews currently partners with the firm White, Ottenheimer & Baker in St. John's.

Robert Simmonds achieved a LL.B at Dalhousie University, B.Comm. (1st class honours) at Memorial University, and a Grade XI matriculation diploma from Bishop's College, St. John's. His major areas of practice are criminal law and litigation. Mr. Simmonds was called to the Bar in 1980 and was a Crown attorney for the Department of Justice from April 1980 to May 1983. Since June 1997 he has been the managing partner of the St. John's firm, Simmonds Kennedy O'Quinn.

Paul Stokes is a graduate of Prince of Wales Collegiate, Memorial University (psychology) and Dalhousie University in law in 1974. He was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1974. He currently practices law with the firm of Curtis, Dawe and is active in community service specifically in the long term health care sector.

Edward Shortall graduated from Carleton University in 1968 with a B.A., from Memorial University in 1970 with a diploma in education and Dalhousie University in 1974 with a LL.B. Since his admission to the Newfoundland Bar in December 1974, he has been engaged in private practice in St. John's. His practice includes labour law, family law, conveyancing, litigation, municipal law, criminal law and personal injury.

The appointees will receive their commissions as Queen's Counsel from Hon. A.M. House, Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, at a date to be announced later.

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

2001 08 09                                                  4:15 p.m.