New Judge Sworn-in to Nova Scotia Supreme Court

Justice Patrick J. Duncan is sworn in by Her Honour, The Honourable
Mayann E. Francis, O.N.S., Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia

Her Honour, The Honourable
Mayann E. Francis, O.N.S., Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia,
makes a few congratulatory remarks

Several dignitaries are on hand, including the Honourable Cecil Clarke,
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of
Nova Scotia (second from left), to make a few remarks

Justices and Judges from the various Courts of Nova Scotia also attend

On the bench for the ceremony are (from right to left):
Robert Ferguson - Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
Deborah Smith - Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
Michael MacDonald - Chief Justice of Nova Scotia and of the Court of Appeal,
Joseph Kennedy - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
and the new Judge - Justice Patrick J. Duncan

Chief Justice Michael MacDonald conducts this special
swearing-in session of the Court

Chief Justice Joseph Kennedy welcomes Justice Duncan to his Court

Friends and acquaintances of Justice Duncan fill the courtroom

Justice Duncan's family and closest friends look on

Nova Scotia's new Supreme Court Judge, Justice Patrick J. Duncan

A former partner at Beveridge, MacPherson & Duncan in Halifax, Justice Duncan received a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University in 1979, and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Francis Xavier in 1976. He was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1980. He was a staff Lawyer for Nova Scotia Legal Aid before joining the law firm of Beveridge, MacPherson & Duncan, Barristers & Solicitors in Halifax since 1986 where he developed practice expertise in criminal law, administrative law, and civil litigation. Justice Duncan also taught/lectured and presented at numerous conferences over the past fourteen years. He was also an advisor for Coverdale Courtwork services for women, and a volunteer for the Public Legal Education Society.

Justice Patrick J. Duncan replaces Justice A. P. Boudreau. Justice Boudreau sits in Digby. He recently elected to become a supernumerary judge.