Malcolm McLeod appointed as provincial judge, in Sudbury

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ************************* Attorney General announces judicial appointments

New judges to preside in Haileybury and Sudbury

TORONTO, Dec. 14 - Attorney General Michael Bryant has today announced the appointment of Malcolm Gordon McLeod and Michelle Joanne Rocheleau as provincial judges to the Ontario Court of Justice. "These two individuals have a depth of experience that will enable them to contribute considerably to the bench," Bryant said. "These appointments demonstrate our government's ongoing investment in the justice system."

Mr. Justice McLeod was called to the bar in 1982 and has been in private practice in Sault Ste. Marie for 24 years.

His practice has been diverse, including family, criminal and administrative law and civil litigation.

During his years of private practice, Mr. Justice McLeod represented the Garden River First Nation in land claims and governance issues, was legal advisor and counsel to the Citizens Concerned for Michipicoten Bay, a citizen's group dedicated to protecting the lands along Lake Superior, and represented people with mental disabilities in consent and capacity hearings.

Madam Justice Rocheleau was called to the Bar in 1985 and most recently was a family lawyer for Legal Aid Ontario in Timmins.

A bilingual lawyer, she practised general law for over 15 years in Timmins, providing representation in family and criminal matters.

She has also been a deputy judge of the small claims court and chair of Appeals for the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal.

Madam Justice Rocheleau has been a member of the Cochrane Law Association, the Quality Standards Committee for Legal Aid Ontario and the fundraising committee for the Timmins District Hospital Foundation.

Chief Justice Brian W. Lennox has assigned Mr. Justice McLeod to preside in Sudbury and Madam Justice Rocheleau to preside in Haileybury, effective December 27. Bryant has appointed 63 judges since the McGuinty government was sworn in on October 23, 2003.

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