Nova Scotia Provincial Court

From Criminal Law Notebook
This page was last substantively updated or reviewed December 2022. (Rev. # 86529)


(~X) = approximate number of published decisions according to CanLII as of July 2020, unless otherwise indicated.

The Provincial Court was created by the Stipendiary Magistrates Act, on April 14, 1938. The name of Provincial Court was introduced in 1976.

Current Judges

Name Location Date Appointed Appointed By Prior Position(s) Other Details
Pamela S. Williams (CJ)[1] HRM September 19, 2003 (Judge)
2013 (Chief)
PC (2003)
NDP (2013)
NS Legal Aid, Youth
Called to bar (1985)
Published criminal decisions (~24)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Alanna Murphy [2] Dartmouth November 13, 2002 Hamm / Baker (PC) NS Public Prosecution Service (1987 to 2002)
Chief Crown (2000 to 2002)
Called to bar (1987)
Published criminal decisions (~0)
(as of the end of December 2022)
James H. Burrill [3] Yarmouth September 19, 2003 Hamm / Baker (PC) NS Public Prosecution Service (1987 to 2003)
Called to bar (1986)
Published criminal decisions (~20)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Laurel J. Halfpenny-MacQuarrie [4] Port Hawkesbury September 19, 2003 Hamm / Baker (PC) NS Public Prosecution Service
Private Practice
Called to bar (1990)
Published criminal decisions (~9)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Gregory E. Lenehan [5] Halifax October 19, 2010 Dexter / Landry (NDP) NS Public Prosecution Service (1989 to 2010) Published criminal decisions (~4)
(as of December 2022)
Timothy D. Landry [6] [7] Digby/Yarmouth September 19, 2012 Dexter / Landry (NDP) NS Legal Aid (1994 to 2012)
Called to bar (1992)
Published criminal decisions (~4)
(as of December 2022)
Daniel A. MacRury [8] Dartmouth July 30, 2014 McNeil / Diab (Lib) NS Public Prosecution Service
Called to bar (1986)
Published criminal decisions (~0)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Elizabeth Buckle [9] [10] Halifax
Amherst
March 31, 2015 McNeil / Diab (Lib) Beveridge, MacPherseon & Buckle (criminal) (2008 to 2015)
PPSC Crown (2004 to 2008)
Heller Rubel
Called to bar (1994)
Published criminal decisions (~17)
Alain Bégin [11] [12] Truro September 1, 2016 McNeil / Whalen (Lib) McLellan Richards & Bégin (2000 to 2016)
Private practice
Called to bar (1995)
Published criminal decisions (~15)
Ronda van der Hoek [13] Kentville/Windsor January 23, 2017 McNeil / Whalen (Lib) Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Nova Scotia Legal Aid
Called to bar (1997)
Published criminal decisions (~2)
Cathy Benton [14] [15] [16] Bridgewater/
Shubenacadie
January 23, 2017 McNeil / Whalen (Lib) NS Legal Aid
Called to bar (1994)
Published criminal decisions (~3)
Rickcola Brinton [17] Halifax March 31, 2017 McNeil / Whalen (Lib) NS Legal Aid, Youth (2001 to 2017)
Called to bar (~2000)
Published criminal decisions (~0)
Rosalind Michie [18] Amherst March 31, 2017 McNeil / Whalen (Lib) NS Public Prosecution Service (2001 to 2017)
Called to bar (1997)
Published criminal decisions (~5)
Amy Sakalauskas [19] [20] Sydney March 31, 2017 McNeil / Whalen (Lib) Private practice
Called to bar (2003)
Published criminal decisions (~6)
Diane L. McGrath [21] Sydney September 19, 2017 McNeil / Furey (Lib) NS Prosecution Service
NS Legal Aid
Private Practice
Called to bar (1993)
Published criminal decisions (~6)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Anne Marie Simmons [22] Halifax November 10, 2017 McNeil / Furey (Lib) Public Prosecution Service of Canada (2005 to 2017)
NS Crown Attorney (1995~ to 2005)
private practice (1984 to 1995~)
Called to bar (~1984)
Published criminal decisions (~2)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Chris Manning [23] Kentville May 31, 2018 McNeil / Furey (Lib) Private Practice (criminal)
NS Legal Aid
Called to bar (1985)
Published criminal decisions (~0)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Perry Borden [24] Halifax July 9, 2020 McNeil / Furey (Lib) NS Crown Attorney (2007 to 2020)
Private Practice (criminal)
Called to bar (2003)
Published criminal decisions (~2)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Christine Driscoll December 2021 Houston / Brad Johns (PC) Crown Attorney Published criminal decisions (~0)
D. Shane Russell December 2021 Houston / Brad Johns (PC) Crown Attorney Published criminal decisions (~2)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Brad G. Sarson [25] Dartmouth June 3, 2022 Houston / Brad Johns (PC) Legal aid
Called to bar (1997)
Published criminal decisions (~0)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Kelly J. Serbu [26] Halifax June 3, 2022 Houston / Brad Johns (PC) Adjudicator re Residential Schools (2008 to 2019)
Private practice (criminal) [27]
Called to bar (1997)
Published criminal decisions (~0)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Nicole A. Rovers [28] Antigonish June 3, 2022 Legal Aid
Called to bar (2002)
Published criminal decisions (~0)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Jill Hartlen Dartmouth February 3, 2023
Jill Barrington Sydney February 3, 2023
Bronwyn Duffy Dartmouth February 3, 2023
Bryna Hatt Pictou February 3, 2023

Part-time/Supernumerary Judges

Name Location Date Appointed Appointed By Prior Position(s) Other Details
Jean M. Whalen [29] Dartmouth January 16, 2009 MacDonald / Clarke (PC) NS Public Prosecution Service
Called to bar (~1985)
Published criminal decisions (~50)
Paul V. Scovil [30] Bridgewater August 2, 2011 Dexter / Landry (NDP) NS Public Prosecution Service (1998 to 2011)
Called to bar (1982)
Published criminal decisions (~44)
Del W. Atwood [31] [32] Pictou November 10, 2009 Dexter / Landry (NDP) NS Public Prosecution Service (2002 to 2009)
Crown Attorney (Nlfd) (1993 to 2002)
Legal aid (1986 to 1992)
Called to bar (~1985)
Published criminal decisions (~187)
(as of the end of Dec 2021)
E. Ann Marie MacInnes [33] Sydney November 10, 2015 McNeil / Whalen (Lib) NS Legal Aid
Called to bar (1991)
Published criminal decisions (~2)
Theodore K. Tax [34] Dartmouth October 1, 2008 MacDonald / Clarke (PC) Federal DOJ
Called to bar (1978)
Published criminal decisions (~64)
A. Peter Ross Sydney 1990 PC
(Buchanan/?)
NS Public Prosecution Service
Called to bar (~1978)
Published criminal decisions (~45)
Barbara Beach Halifax, Youth 1994 Liberal
(Savage/?)
NS Legal Aid
Called to bar (~1978)
Published criminal decisions (~6)
(as of the end of December 2021)
Michael B. Sherar [35] Halifax 1990 (Judge)
January 2020 (Sup.)
PC Blois Nickerson
Called to bar (~1978)
Published criminal decisions (~12)
Warren Zimmer Truro April 12, 2011 (Judge), 2017 (Sup.) NDP Private Practice (1984 to 2011)
Crown Attorney (1978 to 1984)
Called to bar (1978)
Published criminal decisions (~0)
(as of the end of December 2021)
Marc C. Chisholm [36] Halifax September 19, 2003 (Judge), 2017 (Sup.) PC NS Public Prosecution Service (1980 to 2003)
Called to bar (1980)
Published criminal decisions (~40)
William Digby [37] [38] Halifax June 10, 1997 (Judge), 2017 (Supernumerary) Liberal NS Legal Aid Director (1994 to 1997)
NS Legal Aid (1973 to 1997)
Called to bar (1972)
Published criminal decisions (~3)
(as of the end of December 2022)
Flora I. Buchan Dartmouth 1996 (judge), 2017 (Sup) Liberal private practice
Called to bar (~1981)
Published criminal decisions (~1)
(as of the end of December 2021)
Alan T. Tufts [39] Kentville 1998 (Judge)
2013 (ACJ)
May 31, 2018 (Sup)
Liberal (1998)
NDP (2013)
Muttart Tufts Dewolfe and Coyle
Called to bar (~1980)
Published criminal decisions (~61)
William Dyer Bridgewater Published criminal decisions (~0)
John D. Comeau Dartmouth 1981 [40] Published criminal decisions (~0)
Claudine MacDonald Published criminal decisions (~8)

[41]

Previous Judges

Contact Info

Halifax [42]

Halifax Provincial Court
5250 Spring Garden Rd.
Halifax, NS
B3J 1E7
Phone: (902) 424-8718
Fax: (902) 424-0551
<[email protected]>

Halifax (Youth Court) [43]

Youth Justice Court
Halifax Provincial Courthouse
5250 Spring Garden Rd.
Halifax, NS
B3J 1E7
Phone: (902) 424-8718
Fax: (902) 424-0551

Dartmouth [44]

277 Pleasant St.
Dartmouth, NS
B2Y 4B7
Phone: (902) 424-2390
Fax: (902) 424-0677
<[email protected]>

Dartmouth (Mental Health Court) [45]

Dartmouth Provincial Courthouse
Courtroom #5, 1st Floor
(Offices on the 2nd Floor)
277 Pleasant St.
Dartmouth, NS
B2Y 4B7
Phone: (902) 722-1040

Truro [46]

Provincial Court
540 Prince Street
Truro, NS
B2N 1G1
Phone: (902) 893-5840
Fax: (902) 893-6261

Shubenacadie (Satellite) [47]

5 Mill Village Rd.
Shubenacadie, NS
B0N 1Y0
(902) 893-5840 (Truro Court)

Pictou [48]

69 Water Street
P.O. Box 1750
Pictou, NS B0K 1H0
Phone: (902) 485-7350
Fax: (902) 485-3552
<[email protected]>

Antigonish [49]

11 James Street
Antigonish, NS B2G 1R6
Phone: (902) 863-3676
Fax: (902) 863-7479

Amherst [50]

16 Church Street
3rd Floor
Amherst, NS B4H 3A6
Phone: (902) 667-2256
Fax: (902) 667-1108

Kentville [51]

87 Cornwallis Street
Kentville, NS B4N 2E5
Phone: (902) 679-6070
Fax: (902) 679-6178
<[email protected]>

Windsor (Satellite) [52]

240 King Street
Windsor, NS B0N 2T0
Phone: 679-6070

Digby [53]

119 Queen St.
P.O. Box 1089
Digby, NS B0V 1A0
Phone: 245-4567
Fax: 245-6722

Annapolis Royal (satellite) [54]

377 Saint George Street
P.O. Box 129
Annapolis Royal, NS B0S 1A0
Phone: 532-5462
Fax: 532-7225

Yarmouth [55]

164 Main Street
Yarmouth, NS B5A 1C2
Phone: 742-0500
Fax: 742-0678

Shelburne (Satellite) [56]

136 Hammond Street
Shelburne, NS B0T 1W0
Phone: 742-0500

Bridgewater [57]

141 High Street
Bridgewater, NS
B4V 1W2
Phone: (902) 543-4679
Fax: (902) 543-0678

Port Hawkesbury [58]

15 Kennedy Street
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 2Y1
Phone: (902) 625-2665
Fax: (902) 625-4084
[email protected]

Sydney [59]

136 Charlotte Street
Suites #4 & #5
Sydney, NS B1P 1C3
Phone: (902) 563-3510
Fax: (902) 563-3421
[email protected]

External links

Court Membership
Supreme Court of Canada (SCC)
British Columbia Court of Appeal (BCCA)
Supreme Court of British Columbia (BCSC)
Provincial Court of British Columbia (BCPC)
Court of Appeal of Alberta (ABCA)
Court of King's Bench of Alberta (ABKB)
Alberta Court of Justice (ABCJ)
Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan (SKCA)
Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan (SKKB)
Provincial Court of Saskatchewan (SKPC)
Manitoba Court of Appeal (MBCA)
Court of King's Bench of Manitoba (MBKB)
Provincial Court of Manitoba (MBPC)
Court of Appeal for Ontario (ONCA)
Superior Court of Ontario (ONSC)
Ontario Court of Justice (ONCJ)
Quebec Court of Appeal (QCCA)
Quebec Superior Court (QCCS)
Court of Quebec (QCCQ)
New Brunswick Court of Appeal (NBCA)
Court of King's Bench of New Brunswick (NBKB)
New Brunswick Provincial Court (NBPC)
Court of Appeal of Prince Edward Island (PEICA)
Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island (PEISC)
Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island (PEIPC)
Nova Scotia Court of Appeal (NSCA)
Nova Scotia Supreme Court (NSSC)
Nova Scotia Provincial Court (NSPC)
Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Court of Appeal) (NLCA)
Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (NLSC)
Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (NLPC)
Territorial Courts (YKTC, YKSC, YKCA, NTTC, NTSC, NTCA, NUCJ, NUCA)
Membership of Federal Appointments Committees