Province makes Robert Villeneuve's appointment official

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

******************** Attorney General announces judicial appointments

New judges to preside in Elliot Lake/Blind River, Toronto and Fort Frances

TORONTO, Oct. 31 - Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today the appointment of five provincial judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective November 9, 2005. "I am confident that the achievements of these accomplished individuals will allow them to make significant contributions to the bench," said Bryant. Three of these appointments are part of an increased complement of family judges that will hear family and child protection cases.

The government recently announced that a number of appointments would be made that would help to move child protection cases through the system as quickly and effectively as possible, improving court access for children and their families. Mr. Justice Thomas McKay was called to the Bar in 1986, and has practised widely in many fields, including criminal, family and child welfare law.

He has also worked in remote First Nation communities and acted as counsel to a local child Family and Services Agency. He has been a deputy judge for the Small Claims Court and is a member of the Kenora District Law Association. Chief Justice Brian W. Lennox has assigned Mr. Justice McKay to preside in Fort Frances. Called to the Bar in 1977, Madam Justice Ellen Murray worked in general practice for one year in Toronto. She was a sole practitioner for eight years and in 1987, joined a partnership in family law. She was a panel member of the Office of the Children's Lawyer in representing children, and has experience in alternatives in resolving disputes without having to go to court. Chief Justice Brian W. Lennox has assigned Madam Justice Murray to preside in Toronto. Madam Justice Debra Paulseth was called to the Bar in 1981 and has practised in the family courts for 13 years. She has held several positions in the Official Guardian's Office and been Director of Toronto Court Services with the Ministry of the Attorney General. Most recently, she was Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Court Services, responsible for all legal, policy, and administrative support to the operation of the court system in Ontario.

She was a board member of the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice and has given numerous papers and presentations to various legal organizations. Chief Justice Brian W. Lennox has assigned Madam Justice Paulseth to preside in Toronto. Mr. Justice Stanley Sherr was called to the Bar in 1981, and for 24 years has been practising family law, largely in child protection matters. Since 1987, he has been a panel member for the Office of the Children's Lawyer, representing children in custody/access disputes and child protection matters.

He is a member of the Court and Community Liaison Committee on child protection delay and has been involved in several capacities with the Toronto Supervised Access Program. Chief Justice Brian W. Lennox has assigned Mr. Justice Sherr to preside in Toronto. Called to the Bar in 1987, Mr. Justice Robert Villeneuve practised law in Blind River, focusing on family law, including custody and support, and child protection. In 1999, he became an assistant Crown attorney in Sault Ste. Marie, and prior to his appointment was the designated bilingual assistant Crown attorney for the District of Algoma. He was a member of the Blind River Economic Development Committee and has been a presenter on various topics at the Crown attorneys Summer School. Chief Justice Brian W. Lennox has assigned Mr. Justice Villeneuve to preside in Elliot Lake/Blind River. Bryant has appointed 39 judges since the McGuinty government was sworn in on October 23, 2003. *******************