ONTARIO JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, March 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 Mr. Justice Michael Francis Brown, a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario in Newmarket is appointed Regional Senior Judge of that Court in the Central East Region. He replaces the Honourable Mr. Justice J.B. Shaughnessy who has been the Regional Senior Judge, Central East Region in Newmarket since 2000.

Mr. Justice Brown received a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2003, a Bachelor of Laws in 1979 from Queen's University, and a Bachelor of Arts in 1976 from the University of Toronto. After his call to the Bar, he practiced as an associate lawyer with Campbell, Godfrey and Lewtas in Toronto until 1984 when he became a Crown Counsel at the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario. From 1993-1996, Mr. Justice Brown was Senior Counsel – Discipline at the Law Society of Upper Canada before joining the Ministry of Justice where he acted as Senior Policy Advisor and Executive Assistant to the Minister from 1996-2000. From 2000-2004, he acted as Executive Legal Officer to the Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Justice ( Ontario). Mr. Justice Brown was appointed to the Superior Court of Justice in 2004.

The Honourable Mr. Justice J.B. Shaughnessy, Regional Senior Judge, Central East Region in Newmarket of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario is appointed a judge of that court. He replaces the Honourable Mr. Justice Michael Francis Brown (Newmarket) who has been appointed the Regional Senior Judge, Central East Region.

Mr. Justice Shaughnessy received his Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University in 1974 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976. Before being appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice, General Division in 1998, he was a partner in the Whitby law firm of Sosna & Shaughnessy. Mr. Justice Shaughnessy is a member of the Canadian Judges' Conference and the Ontario Superior Court Judges' Association. Mr. Justice Shaughnessy has served as the Regional Senior Judge, Central East Region for the past six and one half years, appointed to the position in May of 2000.

The Honourable Stanley J. Kershman, a lawyer with Perley-Robertson, Hill and McDougall LLP in Ottawa is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario. He replaces Mr. Justice D.J.A. Rutherford (Ottawa) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Stanley Kershman received a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) in 1976 and a Bachelor of Administration (First Class Honours) in 1973 from the University of Ottawa and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1978. He first practised with Leikin & Kershman (1978-1981), and with a number of Ottawa firms (including Kershman & Story, Kershman & Warren, and Kershman & Kerr) before coming to Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP (2002-2007). Mr. Justice Kershman has acted as a Deputy Judge of the Superior Court of Ontario, Small Claims Court (1994-2007). He is certified as a Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law specialist by the Law Society of Upper Canada and he is the author of Credit Solutions: Kershman on Advising Secured and Unsecured Creditors (Thomson Carswell, 2001).

The Honourable Theresa Maddalena, a partner in the firm of Martens Lingard LLP in St. Catharines, is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario. She replaces Mr. Justice H. McLean (Newmarket) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Theresa Maddalena received a Bachelor of Laws in 1979 and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours Political Science and French) in 1974 from Brock University and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1981. She practised with Walters Maddalena & Cunnison (1981-1990) and then practised with Martens Lingard and its predecessor firms (1990-2007). Madam Justice Maddalena's practice expertise is in the area of family law and wills & estates law. She has been a Member of the Ontario Bar Association, the Lincoln Law Association and the Niagara Collaborative Family Group. She has acted on the Boards of the Niagara Region Sexual Assault Centre, Brock University Board of Trustees, and Chorus Niagara.

The Honourable Drew S. Gunsolus, a partner in the law firm of Staples, Swain & Gunsolus in Lindsay is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario. He replaces Mr. Justice R.F. Scott (Lindsay) who is transferred to Belleville to replace Mr. Justice R.G. Byers who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Drew Gunsolus received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor in 1981 and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours Political Studies) in 1978 from Queen's University and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1983. He articled with Graham, Wilson and Green in Barrie (1981-1982) and has since practised with Staples, Swain & Gunsolus. Mr. Justice Gunsolus' practice expertise is in the area of family law and general litigation. He has been an active member of the Victoria-Haliburton Law Association, an Associate Member of Family Mediation (Ontario and Canada) and has acted as the Children's Lawyer for the Attorney General of Ontario. Very active in his community, Mr. Justice Gunsolus was recognized in 2002 as Citizen of the Year by the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce.

The Honourable Beth Anna Allen, a lawyer with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, Ministry of Finance in Toronto is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario. She replaces Madam Justice G.R. Klowak (Toronto) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Allen received a Master of Laws (Intellectual Property) in 1987 from York University, a Bachelor of Laws in 1984 from the University of Windsor, a Master of Arts (1974) and a Bachelor of Arts (1971) from the University of Toronto and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1986. She has acted as Pension Advocate before the Canada Pension Commission, as Refugee Hearing Officer at the Immigration and Refugee Board, and as Adjudicator of the Social Assistance Review Board before becoming an Adjudicator with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario in 1995. Madam Justice Allen has also acted as Judicial Implementation Coordinator in the Ontario Court of Justice and is an active contributor to the North American Black Historical Museum.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

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