QUEBEC 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 appointment:

The Honourable Line Samoisette , a lawyer with Lemay Collard Samoisette in Sherbrooke, is appointed as a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court for the districts of Mégantic and Saint-François, in the Province of Quebec. She replaces Mr. Justice Léo Daigle ( Sherbrooke) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Samoisette received a Bachelor of Laws from Université de Sherbrooke in 1981. She was admitted to the Quebec Bar in November 1982. She is a lawyer with Lemay Collard Samoisette in Sherbrooke, and since 1988 has worked with the centre communautaire juridique de l'Estrie ( Sherbrooke), and centre communautaire juridique de Asbestos from 1984 to 1988. Her area of expertise consists of family law. In addition, Madam Justice Samoisette taught a professional training program at l'Ecole du Barreau du Quebec, consultation and research from 1988 to 1999 and has been responsible for the family law section at the legal aid office of Sherbrooke since 2005. She is a member of comité sur la gouvernance du barreau du Quebec.

The Honourable Jocelyn Geoffroy , a lawyer with Geoffroy, Matte, Kélada & associés in Amos, is appointed as a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court for the District of Abitibi, Rouyn-Noranda and Témiscamingue, in the Province of Quebec. He replaces Mr. Justice J. Viens (Amos) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Geoffroy received a masters of Business Administration in 1984, a Bachelor of Laws in 1983, and a Bachelor of Arts in 1979 from the University of Ottawa. He was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1984. He has practised with Geoffroy, Matte, Kélada & associés since 1987, and was formerly employed with the Federation des caisses populaires Desjardins in Abitibi as director of litigation. His areas of expertise include civil rights litigation, property law, corporate law, commercial law, insurance law, aboriginal law. In addition, Mr. Justice Geoffroy has provided training for different organizations such as the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

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