Nova Scotia Supreme Court

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court is a superior court in the province of Nova Scotia.

Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Supreme Court consists of 25 judicial seats including the position of Chief Justice and Associate Chief Justice.[1] At any given time there may be one or more additional justices who sit as supernumerary justices.[1] The justices sit in 18 different locations around the province.

Jurisdiction

As with all superior courts across the country, the court is said to have inherent jurisdiction. It hears civil and criminal trials. The criminal trials can be judge alone or judge and jury. The court will also hear appeals from the provincial court, small claims court, Family court, and various provincial tribunals.

Appeals of Supreme Court decisions are then made to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

History
1st Chief Justice Jonathan Belcher by John Singleton Copley (1754), Court Room 4, Nova Scotia Supreme Court
Site of First Court House Plaque, Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, Scotia Square, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange By Benjamin West, Nova Scotia Supreme Court, Court Room 5, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada[2]

While the first court administering the Common Law was established in Annapolis Royal in 1721, the creation of a Supreme Court took place on October 21, 1754, several years before the Province was granted a legislative assembly.[3] The court is the oldest court in Canada and is among the oldest in North America.

Jonathan Belcher was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. The court's jurisdiction extended to the entire colony, which, after the Treaty of Paris ended the war with France in 1763, includes present day Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and eastern Maine.

In 1990, on the recommendation of the Nova Scotia Court Structure Task Force, the County and Supreme courts were merged to create a bench of 25 judges at the trial level. Since 1999, the Supreme Court also administers the Nova Scotia Family Division Court, with eight judges, that has jurisdiction over divorces and other family law cases in the Halifax and industrial Cape Breton.

Supreme Court Family Division

The Supreme Court includes the Family Division which adjudicates matters of family law in the regions of Halifax and Cape Breton. As Supreme Court Justices, they have authority over both divorce as well as all other family law matters, unlike their provincial court counterparts who do not have the federal authority to adjudicate divorces.

Justices of the Supreme Court
Name Location Date appointed Appointed by Prior position(s)
Chief Justice Deborah K. Smith[4] Halifax 2019 Trudeau Associate Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court (2004–2019)
Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice (2001–2004)
McInnes Cooper (1983 to 2001)
Associate Chief Justice Patrick J. Duncan[5][6] Halifax 2007 Harper Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice (2007–2020)

Beveridge, MacPherson & Duncan (1986 to 2007)
NS Legal Aid (1980 to 1986)

Justice Patrick Murray[7][8][9] Sydney 2010 Harper Murray, Gouthro, Wall LLP (2002 to 2010)
Gillis and Murray LLP

Stewart, McKelvey, Stirling, Scales LLP (1991 to 2002)

Justice Pierre L. Muise[8][9] Yarmouth 2010 Harper Provincial Court Judge (2009 to 2010)

NS Public Prosecution Service (1996 to 2009)

Justice Peter Rosinski[10] Halifax 2010 Harper NS Public Prosecution Service (1989 to 2010)
Appeal Crown (2005 to 2010)
McLean & Associates (1989)
Margeson & Wilson (1988)
MacIntosh, MacDonnell & MacDonald (1986 to 1988)
Justice James L. Chipman[11][12] Halifax 2013 Harper Stewart McKelvey Sterling Scales LLP (1998 to 2013)

Cox Downie (1992 to 1998)

Justice Joshua M. Arnold[11][12] Halifax 2013 Harper Arnold Pizzo McKegan LLP (1996 to 2013)
NS Crown Attorney
Justice Robin C. M. Gogan[11][12] Sydney 2013 Harper Breton Law Group (2011 to 2013)

Sampson McDougall (2002 to 2011)

Justice Denise Boudreau[13] Halifax 2013 Harper Public Prosecution Service of Canada (2007 to 2013)
NS Legal Aid (1998–2007)
LeBlanc, MacDonald, and Pickup (1994 to 1998)
Justice Jamie Campbell[14] Halifax 2014 Harper Provincial Court Judge (2005 to 2014)

Cox Hanson (1983 to 2005)

Justice Jeffrey R. Hunt[15] Truro 2015 Harper Patterson Law (1992 to 2015)
Justice D. Timothy Gabriel[16] Halifax 2016 Trudeau Provincial Court Judge (2010 to 2016)

Landry McGillivray (1982 to 2010)

Justice Ann E. Smith[16] Halifax 2016 Trudeau Burchells LLP
Justice Christa Brothers[17][18] Halifax 2017 Trudeau Stewart McKelvey Sterling Scales LLP
Justice John Bodurtha[19] Halifax 2018 Trudeau Atlantic Regional Office, Justice Canada
Justice Darlene Jamieson Halifax 2018 Trudeau Merrick Jamieson Sterns Washington & Mahody
Justice Scott Norton Pictou 2018 Trudeau Stewart McKelvey
Justice John Keith Halifax 2019 Trudeau Weir Foulds, Toronto (1993–1999)

Cox & Palmer, Halifax (2000–2019)

Justice Diane Rowe Bridgewater 2020 Trudeau Department of Justice
Justice Jean Dewolfe Kentville 2021 Trudeau Provincial Court of Nova Scotia
Justice Lloyd Berliner 2021 Trudeau Patterson Law
Justice Gail Gatchalian Halifax 2021 Trudeau Pink Larkin Lawyers
Supernumerary
Name Location Date appointed Appointed by Prior position(s)
Justice Frank C. Edwards Sydney 1993 Chrétien
Justice Gerald R. P. Moir[20] Halifax 1997 Chrétien Burchell, MacDougall (1984 to 1997)
Federal Business Development Bank (1980 to 1984)
Weldo, Misener & Covert (1977 to 1980)
Justice Robert William Wright[21] Halifax 1998 Chrétien Daley, Black & Moreira
Justice C. Richard Coughlan[22] Bridgewater 2001 Chrétien Coughlan and Coughlan
Justice Mona M. Lynch[23] Bridgewater 2002 Chrétien Dept of Justice, Youth Crime
NS Legal Aid (1987 to 1999)
Justice of Family Division
NS Legal Aid
Justice Gregory M. Warner [24] Kentville 2003 Chrétien Warner, Jacquard
Pink Macdonald Harding
Town of Yarmouth
Justice Kevin Coady[24] Halifax 2003 Chrétien Coady Filiter
Justice N. M. (Nick) Scaravelli[25] Pictou/Antigonish 2006 Harper Macintosh MacDonnell & MacDonald (1977 to 2006)

Fitzgerald and Assoc. (1974 to 1977)

Justice Glen G. McDougall[26][27] Halifax 2001 Chrétien Sampson McDougall LLP (1983 to 2001)

Past Judges
Name Location Duration Appointed by Prior position(s)
Justice M. Heather Robertson 1998 to 2021 Jean Chrétien Chief of Staff to the Premier of Nova Scotia (1995)
Burchell, MacDougall (1986 to 1998)
Walker, Dunlop (1985 to 1986)
Chief Justice Joseph Phillip Kennedy 1997 to 2019 Jean Chrétien Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (1998 to 2019)
Chief Judge of Provincial Court (1993 to 1997)
Provincial Court Judge (1978 to 1993)
Kenney, Theakson, Kennedy & Allen (1969 to 1978)
Justice Felix A. Cacchione[28] June 12, 1986, to February 27, 2018 Brian Mulroney Private Practice
Nova Scotia Legal Aid
Justice Elizabeth Van den Eynden[12][15] October 2, 2013 to February 6, 2015 Stephen Harper MacIntosh, MacDonnell & MacDonald (1988 to 2013)
Justice Arthur W. D. Pickup[23][29] December 11, 2002, to September 30, 2016 Jean Chrétien LeBlanc, MacDonald & Pickup (1975 to 2002)
Justice Linda Lee Oland 1998 to 2000 Jean Chrétien McInnes, Cooper & Robertson (1976 to 1998)
Justice Arthur Joseph LeBlanc[30] 1998 to 2017 Jean Chrétien
Justice Joseph Michael MacDonald 1995 to 2005 Jean Chrétien
Justice Marlene Jill Hamilton[31] 1995 to 2001 Jean Chrétien
Justice John Edward Flinn 1995 to 2002 Jean Chrétien
Justice J. Edward Scanlan 1993 to 2015
Justice Hiram Joseph Carver 1993 to 2005
Justice Nancy Jean Bateman 1993 to 1995
Justice Charles Edward Haliburton[32] January 1993 to 2013 Brian Mulroney Eric Kinsman (1962 to 1986), Member of Parliament (1972 to 1974, 1979 to 1980)
Justice Ian Palmeter 1993 to 1997 County Court Judge (1985 to 1993)
Justice Simon James MacDonald[33] January 30, 1993 to December 17, 2016 Brian Mulroney County Court Judge (November 18, 1982 to January 30, 1993)
Crown attorney
MacIntyre, MacDonald & Gillis
federal Department of Justice
Justice Donald MacKinnon Hall 1993 to 2006 County Court Judge (1982 to 1993)
Justice Douglas Lawrence MacLennan 1993 to unknown
Justice Norman Robert Anderson 1993 to 1998
Justice John Hugh MacDonnell 1993 to 1995
Justice Murray James Ryan 1993 to 1994
Justice Ronald Newton Pugsley 1993 to 2000
Justice Jamie William Sutherland Saunders 1990 to 2015 Brian Mulroney
Justice David William Gruchy 1990 to 2007 Brian Mulroney
Justice Walter Robert Evans Goodfellow 1990 to 2009 Brian Mulroney
Justice Allan Paul Boudreau[34] March 30, 1990 to 2007
2007 to October 31, 2016 (Supernumerary)		 Brian Mulroney Crawford, Boudreau & Khattar (1975 to March 30, 1990)
Justice Gerald B. Freeman 1990 to 1993 Brian Mulroney County Court Judge (1988 to 1990)
Justice Elizabeth Ann MacKinnon Roscoe 1989 to 1992 Brian Mulroney
Justice David Ritchie Chipman 1987 to 2000 Brian Mulroney
Justice John McNab Davison 1987 to 2008 Brian Mulroney
Justice Gordon Alfred Tidman 1985 to 2007 Brian Mulroney
Justice Francis Bernard William Kelly 1985 to 2009 Brian Mulroney
Justice Kenneth McNeill Matthews 1985 to 1997 Brian Mulroney
Justice Robert Buckley MacDonald 1985 to 1995 Brian Mulroney
Justice Hilroy Selig Nathanson 1982 to 2007
Justice Daniel Merlin Nunn[35] 1982 to 2005
Justice Lorne Otis Clarke 1981 to 1997
Justice Roderick MacLeod Rogers 1981 to 1998
Justice Peter M. Nicholson Digby, Annapolis Royal February 26, 1981 – April 15, 1986
Justice Charles Denne Burchell 1979 to 1989
Justice Kenneth Peter Richard 1978 to unknown
Justice Leonard Lawson Pace 1978 to 1990
Justice Constance Rachlle Glube 1977 to 1998
Justice James Doane Hallett 1977 to 1990
Justice William Johnston Grant 1977 to 1995
Justice Angus Lewis Macdonald (1973–1992)
Justice Alexander Murdoch Macintosh (1973–1991)
Justice Ian Malcolm MacKeigan (1973–1990)
Justice Vincent Alan James Morrison (1973–1987)
Justice Malachi Cornelius Hubert Jones (1970–1979) appointed to Court of Appeal
Justice Gordon Leavitt Shaw Hart (1968–1999)
Justice Donald Joseph Gillis (1968–1973)
Justice Arthur Gordon Cooper (1968–1983)
Justice Justin Louis Dubisky (1967–1976)
Justice Gordon Stewart Cowan (1966–1981)
Justice Alexander Hugh McKinnon (1966–1973)
Justice Ronald Manning Fielding (1965–1972)
Justice Vincent Joseph Pottier (1965–1970)
Justice Thomas Herbert Coffin (1961–1981)
Justice Frederick William Bissett (1961–1977)
Justice Frank Harris Patterson (1958–1965)
Justice Vincent Christopher MacDonald (1950–1964)
Justice Lauchlin Daniel Currie (1949–1968)
Justice James Lorimer Ilsley (1949–1967)
Justice Eugene Troop Parker (1948–1961)
Justice Josiah H. MacQuarrie (1947–1968)
Justice John Stanley Smiley (1938–1945)
Justice Joseph Andrew Chisholm (1916–1950)[36]
Justice Robert Edward Harris (1915–1931)[36]
Justice James Johnston Ritchie (1912–1925)[37]
Justice Wallace Nesbit Graham (1889–1917)[36]
Justice Charles James Townshend (1887–1914)[36]
Justice James McDonald (1881–1904)[36]
Justice Robert Linton Weatherbe (1878–1907)[36]
Justice John William Ritchie (1870–1882)[37]

Judges of the Supreme Court Family Division
Name Location Date appointed Appointed by Prior position(s)
Associate Chief Justice Lawrence I. O'Neil[38] Halifax September 19, 2007 Stephen Harper Justice of Family Division (19 September 2007 to present)
NS Legal Aid, Antigonish (1999 to 2007)
Pickup & MacDowell (1997 to 1999)
Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada (1990 to 1993)
Sole Practitioner (1989 to 1990)
Member of Parliament (1984 to November 21, 1988)
Assistant to the Premier of Nova Scotia (1980 to 1982)
Justice Leslie J. Dellapinna[39] Halifax June 7, 2001 Jean Chrétien Cox Hanson O'Reilly Matheson
Justice Theresa M. Forgeron[40] Sydney June 24, 2005 Paul Martin H. F. MacIntyre and Associates
Justice Kenneth Haley[41] Sydney July 31, 2008 Stephen Harper Crown attorney (1984 to 2008)
MacLellan, MacDonald & Haley (1980 to 1984)
Justice Elizabeth Jollimore[42] Halifax November 28, 2008 Stephen Harper Stewart McKelvey (1988 to 2008)
Olsers (1987 to 1988)
Justice Beryl A. MacDonald[43] Halifax March 24, 2005 Paul Martin Hicks, LeMoine
Justice Robert M. Gregan[44][45] Sydney June 24, 2015 Stephen Harper NS Legal Aid
Hicks, Lemoine (1991 to 2003)
Justice Robert Ferguson[46] Halifax March 24, 1999 Chrétien McIntyre, Gillis & Ferguson (1962 to 1971)
Family Court Judge (1971 to 1999)
Justice Carole A. Beaton[47] Halifax February 4, 2011 Stephen Harper Provincial court (2002 to 2011)
Beaton Blaikie (1994 to 2002)
Sole practitioner (1992 to 1994)
Creighton & Shatford (1988 to 1992)
Justice C. Lou Ann Chiasson[15] Halifax February 6, 2015 Stephen Harper Weldon McInnes (2000 to 2015)
Chiasson McClure (1995 to 2000)
Sole practitioner (1994 to 1995)
Burchell MacAdam & Hayman (1992 to 1994)
Justice Cindy G. Cormier[48] Halifax October 10, 2014 Stephen Harper Department of Justice
Justice R. Lester Jesudason Halifax May 5, 2015 Stephen Harper Blois Nickerson (1997 to 2015)
Justice Pamela J. MacKeigan Halifax October 20, 2016 Justin Trudeau Blois Nickerson
NS Legal Aid
Justice Lee Anne MacLeod-Archer Sydney April 11, 2014 Stephen Harper Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales (1992 to 2002)
LaFosse MacLeod (2002 to 2014)
Justice Cindy Murray[18] Halifax July 18, 2017 Justin Trudeau NS Legal Aid (1993 to 2017)
Supernumerary
Name Location Date of appointment Prior position(s)
Justice R. James Williams[46] Halifax March 24, 1999 Walker, Dunlop (1986 to 1987)
Blois, Nickerson, Palmeter and Bryson (1987 to 1999)
Justice Moira C. Legere-Sers[46] Port Hawkesbury March 24, 1999 NS Legal Aid (1993 to 1999)
Maritime Life Assurance Company (1980 to 1984)
Boyne Clarke (1977 to 1980)
Justice Deborah Gass[46] Halifax March 24, 1999 Executive Director of the Penitentiary Legal Services (1979 to 1991)
Wright, Chivers & Co (1977)
Justice Darryl W. Wilson[46] Sydney March 24, 1999 Family Court Judge (1985 to 1999)
Crown Attorney (1980 to 1982)
Edwards & Wilson (1976 to 1980)
Retired
Name Location Duration Appointed By Prior position(s)
Justice Douglas C. Campbell[46][49][50] Halifax March 30, 1999 to May 31, 2016 Jean Chrétien Cox Hansen O'Reilly Matheson (1974 to March 30, 1999)
Justice J. Vernon MacDonald[49] Sydney March 30, 1999 - unknown Jean Chrétien Khattar & Khattar (1973 to 1975, 1978 to 1982)
Nova Scotia Legal Aid (1975 to 1978)
Sole practitioner (1982 to 1985)
Family Court Judge (1985 to 1999)
Justice M. Clare MacLellan[46][49][51] Sydney March 30, 1999 – 2007 Jean Chrétien Nova Scotia Legal Aid (1977 to 1981)
Children's Aid Society (1988 to 1995)
Family Court Judge (1995 to 1999)

References
  1. "Federal Judicial Appointments - Number of Federally Appointed Judges in Canada". fja.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  2. According to Thomas Akins, this portrait hung in the legislature of Province House (Nova Scotia) in 1847 (See Akins, History of Halifax, p. 189). According to Arthur Eaton, the portrait was still in Province House in 1891. p. 33
  3. "History of the Court of Chancery in Nova Scotia". Carswell. 1900.
  4. Benjamin, Graeme (24 June 2019). "Trudeau announces appointment of Nova Scotia Supreme Court chief justice | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
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