March 13, 2014
Provincial Government Appoints Two New Judges
New Provincial Court Judges to Sit in St. John’s and Stephenville
The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Justice, and the Honourable Felix Collins, Attorney General, today announced two new judicial appointments for the province. Lynn E. Cole was appointed to Provincial Court in Stephenville effective March 6, while Mark T. Linehan was appointed to Provincial Court in St. John’s effective March 4.
“Ms. Cole and Mr. Linehan both have significant experience in the practise of criminal law in Newfoundland and Labrador. This experience, combined with their reputations in the legal profession, will serve them well as they join the bench. I congratulate them both on their new positions.”
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Justice
Ms. Cole has been a lawyer in the province since 1991, most recently working as a solicitor with the Newfoundland and Labrador Legal Aid Commission in Corner Brook. Mr. Linehan has been practising law since 1996 and was working as a provincial Crown Attorney in Gander prior to being appointed to the bench. Biographies of both new judges can be found in the backgrounder below.
“I would like to welcome Ms. Cole and Mr. Linehan to their new appointments. I am confident that they will do an exceptional job and serve their communities well as judges with the Provincial Court. These positions carry a lot of responsibility, and I believe both are up to the task.”
- The Honourable Felix Collins, Attorney General
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.
QUICK FACTS
- Judge Lynn E. Cole has been appointed as a judge with Provincial Court in Stephenville, while Judge Mark T. Linehan has been appointed as judge with Provincial Court in St. John’s.
- Judge Cole and Judge Linehan both have significant experience as practising attorneys in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- The Provincial Court is the Court of first instance for all criminal and regulatory offences. Trials of the vast majority of such offences are concluded there.
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Media contact:Luke Joyce
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 725-4165
lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Biographical Information
Lynn E. Cole graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours). Ms. Cole graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1990 with a Bachelor of Laws degree. Ms. Cole was called to the Bar of Newfoundland and Labrador on April 8, 1991, upon completing her articles with the law firm of Monaghan, Seaborn, Marshall, Murphy and Allen-Westby. After working at that same law firm, she also held a position at Matthews, Cole and Senior before joining the Newfoundland and Labrador Legal Aid Commission. Having practised both criminal and family law, Ms. Cole acted as the Legal Aid Commission’s Representative on the Committee for Family Justice Services from 2003-05; was a member of the west coast chapter of the John Howard Society between 1997 and 2004; and has served on the Justice Minister’s Committee on Violence against Women since 2005. Ms. Cole is a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mark T. Linehan graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science (Biology). In 1995, he graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Laws degree. Upon completing his articles with the Crown Attorney’s Office of the Department of Justice in Corner Brook, Mr. Linehan was called to the Bar of Newfoundland and Labrador on July 2, 1996. Having worked the majority of his career in criminal law with the Department of Justice of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Linehan has worked for the Crown Attorney’s Office in Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, and Gander. Mr. Linehan has an extensive history of community involvement, including but not limited to: the NL Crown Attorney’s Association, of which he served as President from 2005-07; the Canadian Cancer Society Board; and Targa Newfoundland; he is a long-standing member the Rotary Club of Gander, of which he served as president from 2008-09. Mr. Linehan is a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
2014 03 13 11:15 a.m.