December 17, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that Her Excellency the Governor General has approved his recommendation that the Honourable J. Michael MacDonald be appointed Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and that the Honourable Deborah K. Smith be appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

Chief Justice MacDonald was first appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in 1995. He was appointed Associate Chief Justice of the same court in 1998. He is a member of the Canadian Judicial Council and sits on many of its committees. He graduated in law from Dalhousie University and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers Society in 1979. Prior to serving as a judge, he practised law as a partner with the firm of Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales. He will replace the Honourable Constance Glube who has decided to retire.

Associate Chief Justice Smith, who will replace Chief Justice MacDonald in his former position, has been a judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia since 2001. She graduated in law from Dalhousie University in 1983 and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers Society in 1984. Before being appointed to the bench, she was a partner with the firm of McInnes Cooper.

These appointments come into effect December 31, 2004.