PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, February 20, 2008 -- The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable John K. Mitchell, a lawyer with Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales in Charlottetown, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. He replaces Mr. Justice David H. Jenkins ( Charlottetown) who was appointed to become Chief Justice of Prince Edward Island.

Mr. Justice Mitchell received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan in 1981, a Bachelor of Education in 1977, and a Bachelor of Arts in 1975 from the University of Prince Edward Island. He was admitted to the Bar of Prince Edward Island in 1982. Mr. Justice Mitchell has been a Partner with Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales since 1986, and a previous associate with Scales, Jenkins & McQuaid (the predecessor firm to Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales) from 1984 to 1986. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1996. Mr. Justice Mitchell has developed an expertise in criminal law, labour/employment law, administrative law, and civil litigation. He has been a Bar Admission Instructor on Criminal Law since 1995 and a member of Council and Past President of Prince Edward Island Law Society from June 2003 to June 2004.

This appointment is effective immediately.

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Ref.:

Darren Eke
Press Secretary
Minister's Office
613-992-4621