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Revision as of 10:52, 2 April 2012

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court is a superior court in the province of Nova Scotia.

The Court comprises the Chief Justice (who is also the Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal), the Associate Chief justice, twenty-one judges and six supernumerary (or semiretired) Justices, who sit in 18 different locations around the province.

Jurisdiction

As with all superior courts across the country, the court is said to have inherent jurisdiction. It hears civil and criminal trials. The criminal trials can be judge alone or judge and jury. It is the only court that can hear indictable offences. The court will also hear appeals from the provincial court, small claims court, Family court, and various provincial tribunals.

Appeals are then made to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

History

While the first court administering the Common Law was established in Annapolis Royal in 1721, the creation of a Supreme Court took place on October 21, 1754, several years before the Province was granted a legislative assembly. The court is the oldest court in Canada and is among the oldest in North America.

Jonathan Belcher was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. The court’s jurisdiction extended to the entire colony, which, after the Treaty of Paris ended the war with France in 1763, includes present day Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and eastern Maine.

In 1990, on the recommendation of the Nova Scotia Court Structure Task Force, the County and Supreme courts were merged to create a bench of 25 judges at the trial level. Since 1999, the Supreme Court also administers the Nova Scotia Family Division Court, with eight judges, that has jurisdiction over divorces and other family law cases in the Halifax and industrial Cape Breton.

Judges of the Supreme Court

Position Name Location Appointment
Chief Justice Joseph Phillip Kennedy Halifax
Associate Chief Justice Deborah K. Smith Halifax
Justice Allan Boudreau Halifax
Justice Cindy A. Bourgeois Sydney
Justice Felix A. Cacchione (supernumerary) Halifax
Justice Kevin Coady Halifax
Justice C. Richard Coughlan (supernumerary) Bridgewater
Justice Patrick J. Duncan Halifax
Justice Frank C. Edwards Sydney
Justice Charles E. Haliburton Digby/Annapolis
Justice Suzanne M. Hood Halifax
Justice Arthur J. LeBlanc Halifax
Justice A. David MacAdam Halifax
Justice Simon J. MacDonald Sydney
Justice Douglas L. MacLellan Pictou/Antigonish
Justice Glen G. McDougall Halifax
Justice Gerald R.P. Moir Halifax
Justice John D. Murphy Halifax
Justice Patrick Murray Syndey 2010
Justice Arthur W. D. Pickup Halifax
Justice M. Heather Robertson Halifax
Justice J. Edward (Ted) Scanlan Truro/Amhert
Justice N.M. (Nick) Scaravelli Pictou/Antigonish
Justice Margaret Stewart Bridgewater
Justice Gregory M. Warner Kentville
Justice Robert W. Wright Halifax

Judges of the Supreme Court Family Division

Position Name Location
Associate Chief Justice Lawrence I. O'Neil
Justice Douglas C. Campbell Halifax
Justice Leslie J. Dellapinna Halifax
Justice Theresa M. Forgeron Sydney
Justice Deborah Gass Halifax
Justice Kenneth Haley Sydney
Justice Elizabeth Jollimore Halifax
Justice Moira C. Legere-Sers Halifax
Justice Mona Lynch Halifax
Justice Beryl A. MacDonald Halifax
Justice M. Clare MacLellan Sydney
Justice Robert Ferguson Halifax
Justice R. James Williams Halifax
Justice Darryl W. Wilson Sydney