Two Judges In Dartmouth Retire
Six Other Judges Move To New Assignments

Associate Chief Judge R. Brian Gibson, sitting in Dartmouth, and Judge D. William MacDonald, also in Dartmouth, have retired. However, both will continue to work on a part-time basis for a number of months to come.

	“The departure of these two fine and experienced Judges will be a great blow to the Provincial Court”, says Chief Judge Patrick Curran, “tempered only by the fact that both of them have said they would be willing to continue to preside on a part-time basis.” ACJ Gibson was first appointed to the Bench in 1990 after 17 years of practicing law in Nova Scotia. He was appointed as the Provincial Court’s Associate Chief Judge in 1999 and has held that position ever since.
Associate Chief Judge R. Brian Gibson
Judge D. William MacDonald was called to the Bar in 1968 and, after a short time in private practice, his legal career was spent in the public service, including almost ten years as Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister. He was appointed to the Provincial Court in 1997. Most recently, Judge MacDonald was instrumental in setting up Nova Scotia’s first Mental Health Court in Dartmouth.
		Judge D. William MacDonald

In light of the retirement of Judge MacDonald and Associate Chief Judge Gibson, several other Provincial Court Judges have agreed to take on new assignments.  The following changes took effect on September 7th, 2010:

1. Judge Pamela Williams moved from Halifax to Dartmouth and took over the duties of Judge MacDonald, including the Mental Health Court.
2. Judge Jamie Campbell succeeded Judge Williams in the Halifax Youth Justice Court.
3. Judge Anne Derrick assumed full responsibility for courtroom #6 in Halifax, the long trial and youth backup court.
4. Judge Ted Tax moved from Pictou County to Dartmouth to take on Associate Chief Judge Gibson's courtroom duties.
5. Judge Del Atwood moved from Truro to Pictou County to replace Judge Tax.
6. Judge Rick MacKinnon moved from Bridgewater to replace Judge Atwood in Truro.

Because of these changes, the vacancies resulting from Judge Gibson's and Judge MacDonald's retirements were in Halifax and Bridgewater respectively. The recent appointment of Judge Timothy Gabriel fills the Halifax vacancy. The Bridgewater position is still vacant. And another position, in Digby/Yarmouth, has now become vacant with the recent appointment of Judge Pierre Muise to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.