News release

Attorney General Announces Judicial Appointment

Justice

Halifax's former Chief Crown Attorney is Nova Scotia's newest provincial court judge. Attorney General and Justice Minister Cecil Clarke appointed Frank Hoskins to the position today, Sept. 5.

"This experienced individual is extremely qualified to serve Nova Scotians, and will contribute to the fair and effective administration of justice," said Mr. Clarke.

A Halifax native, Mr. Hoskins graduated from Saint Mary's University with a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of education. He graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1989. Mr. Hoskins began prosecuting in 1990 and was appointed a Crown attorney in 1991. In 1995, he left the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service to do criminal defence work. In 1996, he returned to the service, and subsequently held positions as senior Crown attorney, senior Crown counsel, and chief Crown attorney of the Halifax region and special prosecutions. He was appointed to the Queen's counsel in 2006.

Provincial court judges are required to have at least five years experience as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, and must meet other criteria set by the Advisory Committee on Provincial Judicial Appointments. Committee members include two members of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society, the chief judges of the provincial and family courts, and four laypersons appointed by the minister of justice.

The provincial court has exclusive jurisdiction over all summary offences under provincial statutes and federal acts and regulations. The family court provides a forum for hearing issues including maintenance, custody, access, violence between spouses or between parent and child, and child protection matters. More information on Nova Scotia courts is available on the website at www.courts.ns.ca .