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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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