News release

New Judge Appointed for Provincial and Family Court

Justice

Elizabeth Buckle has been appointed as a Nova Scotia provincial and family court judge.

"Ms. Buckle will make an excellent addition to the bench," said the Attorney General and Justice Minister Lena Diab.

Ms. Buckle was called to the bar in Nova Scotia in 1998 and in Ontario in 1994. She has specialized in criminal and administrative law and has been active in lecturing and training both police and lawyers.

Most recently, she was a partner in the Halifax law firm, MacKinnon Buckle and Stevenson, where she has focused on criminal defence and defence of police officers in disciplinary matters. Before that, she worked as a federal prosecutor in both proceeds of crime and general prosecutions.

"Ms. Buckle's years of experience in the justice system and expertise in the law makes me confident that she'll serve Nova Scotians well," said Ms. Diab.

Judges are appointed to both the provincial and family courts to allow flexibility in dealing with court workloads.

They are selected from a list of candidates put forth by the Committee on Provincial Judicial Appointments. The committee includes two members of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society, judges of the provincial and family courts, and four members appointed by the Minister of Justice. The committee recommendations are based on criteria in the Guidelines for Provincial Judicial Appointments.

The provincial court presides over almost all indictable offence charges under the Criminal Code, a charge of murder by an adult accused being the main exception, and has exclusive jurisdiction over all summary offence charges under provincial and federal statutes and regulations.

The family court provides a forum to hear family issues, including maintenance, custody and access, and child protection matters.

For more information on Nova Scotia courts, visit www.courts.ns.ca .