OTTAWA, June 9, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the new judicial application process announced on October 20, 2016. The new process emphasizes transparency, merit, and diversity, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
Aline U.K. Quach, a lawyer at the Bureau d'aide juridique Maisonneuve-Mercier, is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the districts of Abitibi, Rouyn-Noranda and Témiscamingue. She replaces Justice J.F. Buffoni (Montreal), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective February 26, 2017. Because of internal transfers requested by the Chief Justice, this vacancy is located in Amos.
Biography
Justice Aline U.K. Quach received her LL.B. from the Université de Montréal in 1994. She articled with Legal Aid of Montreal and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1996. After several years in private practice, she returned to work for Legal Aid in 1999. Since then, she has practised in several offices and was until her appointment a lawyer in the Maisonneuve-Mercier office, providing much-needed legal services to low-income Quebeckers who would not otherwise have access to justice. Her practice has focused on family law and international child abduction, with additional work in civil and administrative law.
Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Justice Quach arrived in Canada with her family as a refugee. She grew up in the vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood of Ville Saint-Laurent. She has dedicated her career to representing marginalized clients. Throughout her career, she has worked to share her expertise and experience for the benefit of young lawyers. She has been extensively involved with the Barreau de Montréal, including by serving on committees focused on mentorship and ethno-cultural diversity. She speaks fluent French, English, Spanish, and Vietnamese and is a member of Maison Dalauze, a shelter for women who have suffered violence.
Quick Facts
- Budget 2017 proposes additional funding of $55 million over five years beginning in 2017-2018 and $15.5 million per year thereafter for 28 new federally-appointed judges. Of these new positions, 12 would be allotted to Alberta and one to the Yukon, with the remaining 15 being assigned to a pool for needs in other jurisdictions.
- To ensure a judiciary that is responsive, ethical and sensitive to the evolving needs of Canadian society, the Canadian Judicial Council will receive $2.7 million over five years and $0.5 million ongoing thereafter. This will support programming on judicial education, ethics and conduct, including in relation to gender and cultural sensitivity.
- Today's appointments are separate from the Budget 2017 announcement.
- Federal judicial appointments are made by the Governor General, acting on the advice of the federal Cabinet and recommendations from the Minister of Justice.
- The Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented.
- Significant reforms to the role and structure of the Judicial Advisory Committees, aimed at enhancing the independence and transparency of the process, were announced on October 20, 2016.
- The Judicial Advisory Committees in ten jurisdictions have been reconstituted. Most recently, Minister Wilson-Raybould announced the composition of three new Judicial Advisory Committees on April 13, 2017.
- This process is separate from the Supreme Court of Canada judicial appointment process announced on August 2, 2016. Nominees to the Supreme Court of Canada are selected by the Prime Minister from a thoroughly vetted list of candidates.
SOURCE Justice Canada, Department of
media may contact: Kathleen Davis, Communications and Parliamentary Affairs Advisor, Office of the Minister of Justice, 613-992-4621; Media Relations: Department of Justice Canada, 613-957-4207, [email protected]
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