Deputy Director Appointed

Denise Smith has been appointed deputy director of the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service.

"The Public Prosecution Service is privileged to have someone of Ms. Smith's experience and ability take on this key management position," said Martin Herschorn, director of public prosecutions, today, Feb. 11.

"Ms. Smith has been a Crown attorney for 23 years. She has extensive knowledge of criminal law and has successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases including many serious criminal offences.

"As chief Crown attorney for the Halifax region for the past six years, she has effectively led an outstanding team of more than 30 Crown attorneys."

Ms. Smith will develop prosecution policy, manage case-specific issues and oversee administration. She will also represent the Public Prosecution Service on several national and provincial criminal justice committees.

Ms. Smith, a Halifax native, graduated in 1986 from Dalhousie University and Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto in 1989. She articled with Patterson Kitz in Halifax and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1990.

Ms. Smith was appointed a Crown attorney in 1991 was appointed a senior Crown counsel, and regional Crown attorney for Halifax in 2003 and chief Crown attorney for Halifax five years later.

Ms. Smith represents the Public Prosecution Service on a number of justice sector committees and also sits on numerous internal committees and several committees of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society.

She has been an assessor for: the McKelvey Cup, Atlantic Law Schools' trial advocacy competition; a past-chair of the Sopinka Cup National Law Schools' trial advocacy competition; and an instructor with the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program at Université de Moncton. She is also a Dalhousie Feminist Legal Association mentor to first-year female law students.

Ms. Smith will replace Adrian Reid, deputy director since 2003, who retires this spring.