Ottawa , November 23, 2006 – The Honourable Vic Toews Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:
The Honourable Madame Justice Nicole Duval Hesler, a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, District of Montreal is appointed a Puisne Judge of the Court of Appeal of Quebec in Montreal. She replaces Madam Justice L. Mailhot ( Montreal) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.
Madam Justice Nicole Duval Hesler received a licence en droit (with distinction) in 1967 from the Université de Montréal and Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) in 1964 from Marianopolis College, Montreal and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1968. She practised with the firm Buchanan McAllister and its successor firms McAllister Blakely Hesler Lapierre, and Blakely Gascon in Montreal (1968-1992). Madam Justice Duval Hesler was appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in 1992. Since becoming a judge, she has held various executive positions, including President in 2003-2004 and Past President 2005-2007 with the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice. She was also a Past Member of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Bar Association's Law for the Future Fund.
The Honourable Louis-Paul Cullen , a senior partner in the Montreal office of Ogilvy Renault LLP , is appointed a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in the District of Montreal. He replaces Mr. Justice M. Beaudoin ( Montreal) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.
Mr. Justice Cullenr eceived a licence en droit (with great distinction) in 1976 and a Bachelor of Biological Sciences (with distinction) in 1973 from Université de Montréal and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1977. He practised since 1977 with the firm Ogilvy Renault in the Litigation Group of the Montreal office. His practice expertise is in the areas of civil and commercial litigation. Mr. Justice Cullen is a member of the Civil Procedure Committee and a Past Member of the Discipline Committee of the Barreau du Québec and a frequent presenter on issues relating to various aspects of civil litigation.
The Honourable Johanne Mainville, a partner in the Montreal office of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, is appointed a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in the District of Montreal. She replaces Mr. Justice P. Chaput ( Montreal) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.
Madam Justice Johanne Mainville received a Bachelor of Laws in 1983 and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History in 1979 from the University of Montreal and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1984. She practised with the firm Mainville and Associates (1984-2002) in the area of aboriginal law before becoming a partner with Gowling Lafleur Henderson (2002-2006). Madam Justice Mainville's expertise is in the areas of aboriginal, administrative, environmental, and constitutional law and civil litigation. She is a member of the Quebec Bar ( Montreal section) and the Canadian Bar Association.
The Honourable Catherine La Rosa , a lawyer with the firm Garneau Verdon Michaud Samson in Quebec is appointed a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in the District of Quebec. She replaces Mr. Justice G. Pelletier ( Quebec) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.
Madam Justice Catherine La Rosa received a Bachelor of Laws in 1985 from Université Laval and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1986. She has practised with Martineau Walker (1986-1993), Lavery de Billy (1993-1997), and Tremblay Bois Mignault Lemay (1997-2005) before joining Garneau Verdon Michaud Samson in 2006. Her practice expertise is in the areas of family law and human rights. Madam Justice La Rosa is a Member of the Executive Committee, Canadian Bar Association (Quebec Branch) and co-author of two important treatises on family law. She has been very active in the community as Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce, Quebec Section and as a member of the Board of Directors of L'Arche-Québec.
The Honourable François Tôth , a member of the Faculty of Law, University of Sherbrooke is appointed a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in the Districts of Mégantic and Saint-François. He replaces Mr. Justice P.C. Fournier ( Sherbrooke) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.
Mr. Justice François Tôth re ceived a Master of Laws in 1987 from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws in 1980 from Université de Sherbrooke and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1981. He was awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council fellowship in 1986. Mr. Justice Tôth practised with Lapointe Rosenstein in Montreal (1981-1982) and Grignon Brun Mireault Tôth in Granby (1982-1986) before moving to teach law at the Université de Sherbrooke (1987-2006). Mr. Justice Tôth's expertise is in consumer protection law and civil law. He is a Past Director, École du Barreau ( Sherbrooke) and a frequent speaker and publisher of various legal subjects.
These appointments are effective immediately.
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Ref:
Mike Storeshaw
Director of Communications
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621