Adjudicators Appointed to Inquiry Roster

Five Nova Scotia lawyers have been appointed to a board of inquiry adjudicator roster for human rights cases. Another five have been reappointed.

Adjudicators are an essential part of the province’s independent human rights system as defined by the provincial Human Rights Act. Under the act, when a claim of discrimination cannot be settled through the established dispute resolution process at the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, it may be referred to a human rights board of inquiry for a public hearing and adjudication. These boards are independent of the commission and led by a chair appointed from this roster of qualified lawyers by the chief judge of the provincial court.

Perry Borden, Chief Judge of the Provincial and Family Courts, chaired a diverse six-member selection committee to assess candidates following a call for applications in November. It recommended appointments to the commissioners of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, who approved them on Thursday, April 18.

The new adjudicators reflect much-needed diversity and are from across the province:

• Simeon Atunbi, Halifax
• Ryan Clements, Liverpool
• Nancy Elliott, Halifax
• Kelly McMillan, Halifax
• Tuma Young, Malagawatch (Eskasoni).

Those reappointed are:

• Lynn Connors, Kentville
• Dennis James, Truro
• Donald Murray, Dartmouth
• Benjamin Perryman, Halifax
• Eric Slone, Halifax.

Adjudicators are appointed for five-year terms.

More information about the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act and the commission that administers it is available at: https://humanrights.novascotia.ca/