Quebec Judicial Appointments Announced

OTTAWA, February 8, 2013 – 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 Louis Dionne, a judge of the Court of Quebec, is appointed a puisne judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, district of Quebec, to replace Mr. Justice N. Gosselin, who resigned effective November 5, 2012.

Mr. Justice Dionne received a Bachelor of Laws from l'Université de Sherbrooke in 1982, and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1983.

Mr. Justice Dionne was appointed to the Court of Quebec in 2011. Prior to that appointment, he had been a prosecutor with the Office of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions from 2007 to 2011. In addition, Mr. Justice Dionne was Deputy Minister of Quebec Public Safety from 2005 to 2007, Deputy Minister and Deputy Attorney General of the Quebec Department of Justice from 2003 to 2005, and Associate Deputy Minister of Quebec Public Safety Correctional Services from 2001 to 2003. He was the Director of the Organized Crime Section of the Sûreté du Quebec from 1998 to 2001 and team leader of the Proceeds of Crime Section of the Quebec Department of Justice. He was a Crown prosecutor from 1984 to 1995. After being called to the Quebec Bar, he practised with Richer, Béland et Associés. His main areas of practice were criminal law, administrative law and constitutional law.

The Honourable Pierre Labrie, a judge of the Court of Quebec, is appointed a puisne judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, district of Montréal, to replace Mr. Justice J-F. de Grandpré, who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of December 21, 2012.

Mr. Justice Labrie received a Bachelor of Laws from l'Université de Montréal in 1992. He was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1993.

Mr. Justice Labrie was appointed to the Court of Quebec in March 2012. Prior to that appointment, he served with the office of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions from 2002 to 2012. Mr. Justice Labrie practised general litigation with Bélanger Sauvé from 1993 to 2002.

Mr. Justice Labrie was a member of the International Association of Prosecutors. He was a member of the Canadian mission for observation of presidential elections in the Ukraine in 2004.

The Honourable Jean-François Michaud, a lawyer with Norton Rose in Montréal, is appointed a puisne judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, district of Montréal, to replace Madam Justice S. Courteau, who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of December 10, 2012.

Mr. Justice Michaud received a Bachelor of Laws from l'Université de Montréal in 1988 and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1989.

Mr. Justice Michaud has been a partner with Norton Rose since 2000. From 1989 to 2000, he practised with Lavery de Billy. His main areas of practice were commercial law, construction law, insurance law, and professional liability.

Mr. Justice Michaud was a member of the Canadian Bar Association and held various positions with the Montréal Bar Association. He was a committee member for l'Institut d'assurances du Québec from 1998 to 2002 and an instructor at the Quebec Bar Admission Course. He has been a guest lecturer for numerous organizations and was recognized by Best Lawyers Canada and l'Expert for his expertise in product liability and commercial and insurance law.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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