Justice
February 4, 2010
Minister Announces Judicial Appointments
The Honourable Felix
Collins, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, today
announced the appointments of three individuals to the
position of judge of the Provincial Court of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
"I am confident the legal
experience of these three individuals has well prepared
them for the important duties of a judge of the
Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador," said
Minister Collins. "The three individuals joining the
bench have a sound knowledge and dedication to the
practice of law in our province. I congratulate each of
them on their appointment."
Effective February 3,
2010, Jacqueline M. Brazil, Q.C. has been appointed to
Provincial Court in Harbour Grace and Michael Madden has
been appointed to Provincial Court in Gander. Lois
Skanes, Q.C. has been appointed to Provincial Court in
St. John's, effective February 15, 2010.
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Media contact:
Ken Morrissey
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 685-6612
kenmorrissey@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Biographies of Provincial Court of Newfoundland and
Labrador Judicial Appointees
Jacqueline M. Brazil is
from Renews. In 1988 she received a bachelor of arts
(political science/English) from Memorial University and
in 1991 she received a bachelor of laws from the
University of New Brunswick. Prior to joining the
litigation unit at the Department of Justice in January
of 2005, she spent 13 years in private practice, most
recently as a partner in the law firm of Rose & Brazil.
She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2008.
Michael Madden is a
native of St. John's and graduated from Memorial
University in 1981 with a bachelor of arts (honours) and
a bachelor of laws from Dalhousie University in 1985. He
was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 1986
and practised with the firm Fowler Rose, subsequently
Fowler Pike and Madden, until joining Mercer Orsborn
Benson Myles. In 1992 he joined the federal Department
of Justice in Halifax, Nova Scotia and returned to St.
John's upon the opening of the Public Prosecution
Service of Canada in 2001, where he held the position of
senior counsel. He has appeared at all levels of court,
has been a member of the National Wiretap Committee and
a presenter for the Joint Committee on Continuing Legal
Education in St. John's.
Lois Skanes graduated
from Memorial University with a bachelor of arts in 1980
and a bachelor of laws from the University of
Saskatchewan in 1984. Ms. Skanes was called to the
Newfoundland bar in 1985, having since worked in private
practice as well as with the City of St. John's. Most
recently, Ms. Skanes has been a partner with the firm
Roebothan, McKay & Marshall. During her tenure as a
lawyer, Ms. Skanes was an active participant in various
professional organizations including the Law Society of
Newfoundland and Labrador, the Newfoundland and Labrador
Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the Canadian
Bar Insurance Association. Ms. Skanes has extensive
community involvement, including board membership with
the Preparatory Rehabilitation Employment Program Inc.
and the Board of Directors of the Newfoundland and
Labrador Branch of the Canadian Mental Health
Association. Ms. Skanes has served on the board of
directors of The Rooms Corporation and as Chair of the
Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission.
2010 02 04 2:40 p.m.
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