News release

Director of Policy Development and Education Appointed

Public Prosecution Service

Veteran prosecutor Susan MacKay has been appointed director of policy development and education at the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service (PPS), a new position that will serve to enhance the organization’s infrastructure and operations.

“Crown attorneys are responsible for making a multitude of decisions which impact the lives of all Nova Scotians,” says Martin Herschorn, director of Public Prosecutions. “Policies, together with education, are how standards for these decisions are communicated to Crown attorneys. As laws change and new types of crime emerge, there is an ongoing need to develop and change policies and to continually educate Crown attorneys. This position is critical to ensuring the PPS retains its leading edge in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion, and I’m pleased someone with Ms. MacKay’s skills will fill this new role.”

Ms. MacKay has been a regional Crown attorney based in the Dartmouth office for the last four years, helping manage the largest region of the Public Prosecution Service. Prior to that, she was a Crown attorney for 23 years and conducted hundreds of prosecutions, including sexual assault, intimate partner violence, homicide and other complex or sensitive cases.

In her new role, Ms. MacKay will be joining several federal-provincial-territorial groups active in criminal law and prosecutions policy development and reform. She will continue to serve as a member of PPS management.

The new position is funded through the existing PPS budget.

Quotes:

“As an experienced Crown attorney, I understand how crucial policy is in the delivery of fair and consistent prosecutorial services. And as criminal law is constantly evolving, robust continuing legal education is essential. I look forward to the challenge of helping ensure PPS Crown attorneys continue to have the support and guidance they need in these areas.”

– Susan MacKay, director of policy development and education, Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service

Quick Facts:

  • Ms. MacKay, a native of Sydney, has degrees in law and music from Dalhousie University, as well as a certificate from the Management Leadership Development Program of the Public Service Commission
  • she was in private practice for two years before joining the PPS
  • more than 100 Nova Scotia Crown attorneys prosecute about 45,000 criminal offences and about 7,000 provincial regulatory offences annually
  • Crown attorneys are guided by more than 70 policies covering Crown conduct, procedural issues and trial/appeal practice, specific types of prosecutions, sentencing matters and administrative topics
  • continuing legal education for all practicing lawyers is a requirement set by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society; PPS continuing legal education has been overseen by an internal committee of Crown attorneys

Additional Resources:

Public Prosecution Service: https://novascotia.ca/pps/

Nova Scotia Prosecution Policies: https://novascotia.ca/pps/crown_manual.asp

Follow Us