NORTHWEST TERRITORIES JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED

Ottawa, June 19, 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 Donald M. Cooper, Q.C., the Deputy Minister of the Department of Justice of the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.  Mr. Justice Cooper is replacing Mr. Justice J.Z. Vertes (Yellowknife) who replaced Mr. Justice J.E. Richard.

Mr. Justice Cooper received a Bachelor of Arts from Bishop’s University in 1968 and a Bachelor of Law from Queen’s University in 1973.  He was admitted to Bar of the Northwest Territories in 1975, to the Bar of Ontario Bar is 1975 and he was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1987. Mr. Justice Cooper has been the Deputy Minister of Justice, Government of the Northwest Territories since 1996. He was Director of Legal Division for the Department of Justice from 1995 to 1996, a partner with Cooper, Johnson from 1976 to 1995, an associate with Brand and Company from 1975 to 1976 and an associate with Donald M. Cooper Barrister and Solicitor in 1975. Mr. Justice Cooper has developed an expertise in litigation and management. In addition, he has been a Vice President of the Northwest Territories branch of the Canadian Bar Association since 1985.

This appointment is effective immediately.

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Ref.:

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