Ottawa, Ontario – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the appointment of The Honourable Chief Justice J. Derek Green, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Trial Division, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Court of Appeal. He replaces the Honourable Chief Justice Clyde K. Wells, who retired in February 2009.
Chief Justice Green was first appointed to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1992, following an extensive legal career, which included serving as a Bencher and later as Treasurer of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and as Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Law Reform Commission. Until this appointment, Chief Justice Green was a partner at the firm of White, Ottenheimer and Green.
In 1996, Chief Justice Green was appointed to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Court of Appeal, and on October 18, 2000, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Trial Division.
More recently, Chief Justice Green presided over a public enquiry, now known as the Green Commission, into the constituency allowances and spending practices relating to members of the provincial legislature. The Green Commission recommendations set new standards for managing legislatures in Canada.
His appointment as Chief Justice of Newfoundland and Labrador is effective immediately.
