News release

New Application Process for Judicial Appointments Open

Justice

NOTE: Members of the Advisory Committee on Provincial Judicial Appointments are listed following this release.

Nova Scotia lawyers who want to be provincial court judges can now apply under the Province’s new application process.

“Nova Scotia needs to have a strong pool of candidates who are of the highest integrity, exhibit professional excellence and reflect the wide diversity of this province,” said Brad Johns, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “I invite members of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society who represent the best of Nova Scotia and who are interested in being judges to apply.”

The government recently revised its Provincial Judicial Appointments Guidelines, updating the process for appointing judges to the criminal court. The guidelines include a new independent advisory committee, which will recommend candidates to the minister of justice.

The seven-member advisory committee is chaired by retired Justice N.M. (Nick) Scaravelli.

The guidelines ensure that appointments to the bench continue to be based on merit and professional excellence. Gender, racial and cultural diversity, geographical representation and commitment to public service are among the criteria for the appointment of judges.

There are currently two vacancies on the provincial court.

Quick Facts:

  • the Provincial Judicial Appointments Guidelines have been in place since 1995 and were last amended on January 14
  • in 2016, an amendment reduced the number of years of experience in the legal profession required to apply from 15 to 10 years
  • the advisory committee is composed of three members of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, one sitting provincial court judge, two members of the public and a retired justice, who chairs the committee

Additional Resources:

The Provincial Judicial Appointments Guidelines and the application form are available at: https://novascotia.ca/just/Court_Services/

Members of the Advisory Committee on Provincial Judicial Appointments:

  • retired Justice N.M. (Nick) Scaravelli, Chair
  • Paulette Anderson, public representative
  • Natalie Borden, public representative
  • Matthew Darrah, on recommendation of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
  • Judge Ann Marie MacInnes, on recommendation of the chief judge of the provincial court
  • Anil Mohan, member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
  • Jade Pictou, on recommendation of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society

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