Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador
Coat of Arms of the Supreme Court [1]
Map
Established1730
JurisdictionNewfoundland and Labrador
Composition methodappointed by the federal government
Authorized byAll criminal and civil proceedings[2]
Appeals toCourt of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador
Judge term lengthmandatory retirement by age of 75
Number of positions27
Websitecourt.nl.ca/supreme/index.html
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
CurrentlyRaymond P. Whalen
Since11 December 2014

The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador is the superior court for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction to hear appeals in both criminal and civil matters from the Provincial Court and designated boards and administrative tribunals. The court also hear serious criminal cases in the first instances, matters of probate, and family law matters.

The Supreme Court consists of 28 judicial seats including the position of Chief Justice. Of the current justices, 8 sit with supernumerary status.[3]

About the Court

South facade of the St. John's Court House.

The Court is composed of the General Division and Family Division, and has the authority to hear a wide range of cases including civil and criminal matters, matters of estates and guardianship, and family matters. The Court has the authority to hear appeals of specific matters not under jurisdiction of the province's appellate court.

The Court is located in six regions of the province: Corner Brook (3 justices), Gander (1 justice), Grand Bank (1 justice), Grand Falls-Windsor (1 justice), Happy Valley-Goose Bay (1 justice), and St. John's (21 justices).[4][5]

Current justices

Name Appointed Division Appointed by Prior position(s)
Chief Justice Raymond P. Whalen June 19, 2008 (Trial)
December 11, 2014 (CJ)		 Trial Harper
Justice Richard LeBlanc June 20, 2000 Family Chretien
Justice Valerie L. Marshall April 29, 2009 Trial Harper Solo Practitioner
Justice Robert P. Stack[6] November 30, 2009 Trial Harper Cox & Palmer (1984 to 2009)
Justice Deborah J. Paquette June 18, 2010 Trial Harper
Justice Rosalie McGrath[7] May 31, 2012 Family Harper
Justice Donald H. Burrage[8] October 5, 2012 Trial Harper
Justice Laura A. Mennie[9] March 9, 2014 Family Harper Provincial court (2012 to 2014)
Newfoundland Department of (2007 to 2012)
Legal Aid (1994 to 2007)
Poole, Althouse (1993 to 1994)
Justice George L. Murphy[10] April 10, 2014 Family Harper Poole Althouse (1992 to 2014)
Justice Jane M. Fitzpatrick[11] March 27, 2015 Family Harper
Justice Cillian D. Sheahan[12] June 20, 2015 Family Harper
Justice Sandra R. Chaytor[13] May 12, 2017 Trial Trudeau Cox & Palmer
Justice Frances J. Knickle[13] May 12, 2017 Trial Trudeau Acting Director of Public Prosecutions with the Newfoundland and Labrador Department
Justice Vikas Khaladkar[14] October 20, 2017 Trial Trudeau
Justice Alexander S. MacDonald[15] November 9, 2017 Family Trudeau
Justice Daniel Boone[16] November 2, 2018 Trial Trudeau
Justice Michelle Coady March 26, 2019 Family Trudeau
Justice Katherine O'Brien March 26, 2019 Trial Trudeau
Justice Glen Noel May 21, 2019 Trial Trudeau
Justice Peter Browne March 24, 2021 Trial Trudeau
Justice Irene Muzychka March 24, 2021 Trial Trudeau
Justice Trudy Button March 24, 2021 Trial Trudeau
Justice Stacy Ryan March 24, 2021 Trial Trudeau

Supernumerary

Name Date appointed Division Appointed by Prior Position(s)
Justice Kendra J. Goulding June 5, 2002 Trial Chretien
Justice Alphonsus E. Faour November 5, 2003 Trial
Justice Maureen A. Dunn October 4, 1994 Trial
Justice James P. Adams August 7, 1996 Trial
Justice Garrett A. Handrigan[13] March 27, 2001 Trial
Justice Carl R. Thompson[13] December 4, 2001 Trial

See also

References

  1. ^ The Court continues to use the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom to identify itself, though it achieved dominion status in 1907 and joined Canada as a province in 1949.
  2. ^ "Judicature Act". Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  3. ^ Number of Federally Appointed Judges
  4. ^ "Court Locations". Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Judiciary by Region". Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador Judicial Appointment Announced". Government of Canada – Department of Justice. November 27, 2009. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador Judicial Appointment Announced". Government of Canada – Department of Justice. June 1, 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador Judicial Appointment Announced". Government of Canada – Department of Justice. October 5, 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador Judicial Appointments Announced". Government of Canada – Department of Justice. January 31, 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador Judicial Appointment Announced". Government of Canada – Department of Justice. April 11, 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  11. ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador Judicial Appointment Announced". Government of Canada. March 27, 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador Judicial Appointment Announced". Government of Canada. May 29, 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  13. ^ a b c d "Government of Canada Announces Judicial Appointments in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador". Government of Canada – Department of Justice. May 12, 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Government of Canada Announces Judicial Appointment in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador". Government of Canada – Department of Justice. October 20, 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Government of Canada Announces Judicial Appointment in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador". Government of Canada – Department of Justice. November 9, 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Government of Canada Announces Judicial Appointment in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador". Government of Canada – Department of Justice. November 2, 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

External links

Courts of Canada
City of St. John's
Categories