Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment in the province of New Brunswick

OTTAWA, ON, June 6, 2022 /CNW/ - The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

The Honourable Denise LeBlanc, a Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick, Trial Division, in Moncton, is appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick. Justice LeBlanc replaces Justice B.L. Baird, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective March 31, 2022.

Quote

"I wish Justice LeBlanc every success as she takes on her new role. I am confident she will serve the people of New Brunswick well as a member of the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick."

–The Hon. David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Biography

Justice Denise LeBlanc was appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick in 2018. She received her law degree from the University of Moncton and was admitted to the New Brunswick bar in 1986. Fluently bilingual, she went on to practise law for 28 years, specializing in the areas of civil litigation and corporate commercial law. In 2004, she was appointed Queen's Counsel. She was a partner at the law firm of McInnes Cooper in Moncton when she was appointed to the Provincial Court of New Brunswick in 2016.

A dedicated member of the Law Society of New Brunswick, Justice LeBlanc served on several committees and was a lecturer at the Bar Admission Course for many years. She is a past president of the Canadian Bar Association (New Brunswick Division) and has held seats on the boards of organizations such as the Canadian Lawyers Insurance Association, the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont Hospital Foundation, Villa Providence, and Save the Children Canada.

Quick facts

• At the Superior Court level, more than 540 judges have been appointed since November 2015. These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens Canada. Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of visible minorities, Indigenous, LGBTQ2+, and those who self-identify as having a disability.
• The Government of Canada is committed to promoting access to justice for all Canadians. To improve outcomes for Canadian families, Budget 2018 provides funding of $77.2 million over four years to support the expansion of unified family courts, beginning in 2019-2020. This investment in the family justice system will create 39 new judicial positions in Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
• 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 Government of Canada is committed to promoting a justice system in which sexual assault matters are decided fairly, without the influence of myths and stereotypes, and in which survivors are treated with dignity and compassion. Changes to the Judges Act and Criminal Code that came into force on May 6, 2021, mean that in order to be eligible for appointment to a provincial superior court, candidates must agree to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context, which includes systemic racism and systemic discrimination. The new legislation enhances the transparency of decisions by amending the Criminal Code to require that judges provide written reasons, or enter them into the record, when deciding sexual assault matters.

SOURCE Department of Justice Canada

Media may contact: Chantalle Aubertin, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Justice, 613-992-6568, [email protected]; Media Relations, Department of Justice Canada, 613-957-4207, [email protected]