Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces judicial appointments in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
News release
November 29, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada
The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments 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 Glen L.C. Noel, a Judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John’s, is appointed a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador. Justice Noel replaces Justice W.H. Goodridge, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective October 31, 2024.
Dean A. Porter, Partner at Poole Althouse in Corner Brook, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, General Division, in St. John’s. Justice Porter replaces Justice R.P. Stack (St. John's), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective November 26, 2024.
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“I wish Justices Noel and Porter every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador well as members of the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
—The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biographies
Justice Glen L.C. Noel earned a B.A. from Memorial University in 1987 and an LL.B. from Dalhousie Law School in 1990. He was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 1991.
Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2019, Justice Noel had practised his entire career at Cox & Palmer and its predecessor firms in civil litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and appellate advocacy, including appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada. He was consistently recognized by his peers as a leading practitioner in insurance law, commercial insurance litigation, and personal injury law. He was appointed King’s Counsel in 2018.
Justice Noel has had extensive involvement in the legal profession and community and is a former president of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. In other community activities, he has been a member of the Hockey NL Constitutional Committee and the St. John’s Minor Hockey Association Executive and Honorary Solicitor to the Canadian Cancer Society (NL).
Justice Dean A. Porter grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador. He obtained his LL.B. from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia in 1998. He was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 1999.
Justice Porter started his law career at O’Dea Earl in St. John’s where he practiced as a litigation lawyer before returning to Corner Brook in 2001 where he joined the law firm of Poole Althouse until his judicial appointment.
Justice Porter has served on various not for profit boards and committees, and most recently as a sitting member of the local hospital foundation board. In 2022, he was elected by his colleagues to sit as a Bencher with the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Justice Porter and his wife Jennifer have 2 children Brooke and Jack.
Quick facts
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The Government of Canada has appointed more than 805 judges since November 2015. This includes 178 appointments since the Honourable Arif Virani became Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on July 26, 2023, a pace of appointments that has no precedent in Canadian history. These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens Canada. Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of racialized persons, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, and those who self-identify as having a disability.
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To support the needs of the courts and improve access to justice for all Canadians, the Government of Canada is committed to increasing the capacity of superior courts. Budget 2022 provided for 22 new judicial positions, along with two associate judges at the Tax Court of Canada. Along with the 13 positions created under Budget 2021, this makes a total of 37 newly created superior court positions. Since Budget 2017, the government has funded 116 new judicial positions.
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Changes to the Questionnaire for Federal Judicial Appointments were announced in September 2022. The questionnaire continues to provide for a robust and thorough assessment of candidates but has been streamlined and updated to incorporate, among other things, more respectful and inclusive language for individuals to self-identify diversity characteristics.
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Federal judicial appointments are made by the Governor General, acting on the advice of the federal Cabinet and recommendations from the Minister of Justice.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Contacts
For more information, media may contact:
Chantalle Aubertin
Deputy Director, Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General
613-992-6568
Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207
media@justice.gc.ca
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