News release

New Chief Judge Appointed

Justice

Patrick Curran has been appointed chief judge of the Nova Scotia provincial court, Justice Minister Jamie Muir announced today, Jan. 31.

"Over the past 21 years, Judge Curran has carried out his duties with integrity, compassion and dedication," said Mr. Muir. "I am delighted that Judge Curran has agreed to assume this challenging and vital role."

Chief Judge Curran was called to the bar in 1970, after graduating from Dalhousie Law School. He received a bachelor of arts cum laude in philosphy and a bachelor of education from Saint Mary's University. Before his appointment to the provincial court, he was an associate with Patterson, Smith, Matthews and Grant of Truro, a partner with Innes & Curran of Bedford and served as a legal aid lawyer.

Chief Judge Curran has served as the chair of the provincial Court Education Committee and as chair of the Nova Scotia Adult and Youth Criminal Court Forms Committee. He is the past president of the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges, the Nova Scotia Provincial Judges Association and a past chair of the Legal Aid Commission.

The governor-in-council appoints the chief judge on the recommendation of a recruitment committee, which considers applications from current provincial court judges. The committee is comprised of the chief justice of Nova Scotia as chairs, the chief judge of the family court, the past chief judge of the provincial court, the president of the Association of Provincial Court Judges and a lay person without a law degree designated by the Minister of Justice.