News release

Acting Director of Public Prosecution Service Appointed

Justice

The Province has appointed Karen Hudson, KC (King’s counsel), as acting Director of the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

Ms. Hudson has previously served as Nova Scotia’s deputy attorney general and deputy minister of Justice, as well as executive director of Nova Scotia Legal Aid. Her appointment, announced today, July 20, is for a 12-month term.

“I want to thank Ms. Hudson for accepting this important job while we continue the work of recruiting a permanent director for the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service,” said Brad Johns, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “Karen brings leadership skills, experience, and legal expertise from her years as deputy minister and head of Nova Scotia Legal Aid. I know she will bring a steady hand to the Public Prosecution Service, working with their management team to position the organization well for when the new permanent director is hired.”

Ms. Hudson, who has been a member of the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society for more than 30 years, led the revitalization of Nova Scotia Legal Aid, which was recognized for its diversity and collaborative community outreach work under her leadership. She has organized and presented at various national legal conferences, with a focus on making justice more accessible.

The Province will begin a national search for a new PPS director in the coming months.

Quotes:

“It is an honour to be appointed acting Director of the Public Prosecution Service. I have great respect for the work of PPS, which is vitally important to our justice system, and am looking forward to taking on this new role.”

– Karen Hudson, acting Director, Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service

Quick Facts:

  • Ms. Hudson graduated from Dalhousie Law School (now the Schulich School of Law) in 1985
  • the PPS was created in 1990 as Canada’s first independent public prosecution service
  • more than 100 Crown attorneys prosecute about 40,000 new Criminal Code charges and 4,000 provincial regulatory offences each year

Additional Resources:

Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service website: https://novascotia.ca/pps