BRITISH COLUMBIA JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, April 2, 2007 - The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable G. Bruce Butler, Q.C. , partner with the firm Harper Grey LLP of Vancouver, is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. He replaces Mr. Justice V.R. Curtis (Vancouver) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Bruce Butler received a Bachelor of Laws in 1979 and a Bachelor of Arts (English) in 1974 from the University of British Columbia and was admitted to the Bar of British Columbia in 1980. He articled with Harper Grey Easton (1979-80) and then joined the firm and became a partner of the firm (now Harper Grey LLP) in 1986. He has developed his practice expertise in the areas of commercial law, air law, insurance law and gaming law. Mr. Justice Butler has acted as Director of the Vancouver Bar Association and as a Member of the CBA's civil litigation, insurance and air law subsections. He is a frequent lecturer and presenter on tort and insurance law and is active in the Vancouver community coaching minor sports and volunteering for the Canadian Diabetic Association and other charities.

The Honourable Judge J. Keith Bracken , a judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia in Duncan, is appointed judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. He replaces Mr. Justice R.G.D. Wilson (Victoria) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Keith Bracken received a Bachelor of Laws in 1976 and a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) in 1975 both from the University of Saskatchewan and graduated from the RCMP training academy in 1963. He was admitted to the Bar of British Columbia in 1977 and to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1984. Over the next several years Mr. Justice Bracken developed his practice expertise in the areas of civil litigation, banking law and criminal law. In 1991, he was appointed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia. Mr. Justice Bracken has been a frequent presenter at law conferences and has taught at the University of Victoria and Akitsiraq Law Schools. He has also acted as co-editor of the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges' Journal.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref:

Geneviève Breton
Director of Communications
Minister's Office
613-992-4621