Government of Canada announces judicial appointment in the province of Ontario

September 15, 2017 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada  

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.

The Honourable Ian V.B. Nordheimer, a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. He replaces Mr. Justice J.C. MacPherson, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective January 1, 2017.

Biography

Mr. Justice Ian V.B. Nordheimer ascends to the Court of Appeal following an eighteen-year career as a judge of Toronto’s Superior Court of Justice and Administrative Judge of the Divisional Court. During this time, Justice Nordheimer has rendered numerous precedent-setting judgments in civil and criminal law, grappling with issues at the heart of Canada’s constitutional democracy, such as the open court principle, the rights of the accused, and the treatment of lawfully assembled protesters. He is recognized by his peers as an expert in multiple areas of law, including class actions, commercial law and criminal law. Unanimously described as a tireless worker, he has presided over a number of significant trials, including notable murder cases.

In addition to his prolific writing, Justice Nordheimer has held significant administrative positions on the Superior Court of Justice. To name but a few, he has served as the Leader of the Criminal Long Trial (Homicide) Team, Criminal Administrative Judge, Chair of the Advisory Committee tasked with implementing the recommendations of the Civil Justice Reform Project, and Chair of the Subcommittee on Summary Judgments. Furthermore, he is a frequent contributor to continuing legal education programs.

Born in Toronto, but raised in both Montreal and Calgary, Justice Nordheimer earned his honours commerce degree from Queen’s University and then his law degree from the same institution. Justice Nordheimer went on to practise commercial litigation with Fraser & Beatty (now Dentons LLP) in Toronto until he was appointed to the Superior Court of Justice in April 1999.

Justice Nordheimer is a proud member of the LGBTQ2 community and has actively supported many charitable LGTBQ2 organizations, including Casey House Foundation and the Rainbow Railroad. Justice Nordheimer’s reputation extends beyond the borders of the legal community – in 2014, Toronto Life magazine named him one of the “reasons to love Toronto.”

Quick Facts

• Budget 2017 includes 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 have been 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.
• 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 15 jurisdictions have been reconstituted. Most recently, Minister Wilson-Raybould announced the composition of five new Judicial Advisory Committees on June 28, 2017.
• This process is separate from the Supreme Court of Canada judicial appointment process opened on July 14, 2017. Nominees to the Supreme Court of Canada are selected by the Prime Minister from a thoroughly vetted list of candidates.

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