“This is a wonderful day for the Judiciary, and for Nova Scotia. These two women bring many years of legal experience and expertise to the Bench, not to mention the important perspective they’ve developed from years of working in and giving back to their communities."
- The Honourable Pamela Williams, Chief Judge of the Provinical and Family Courts
Judge Catherine Benton
Judge Catherine Benton |
ROBING CEREMONY The robing ceremony for Judge Benton will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2017, at Provincial Court in Bridgewater, Courtroom #4, 141 High Street. |
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Judge Ronda van der Hoek |
ROBING CEREMONY The robing ceremony for Judge van der Hoek will be held at |
Judge Catherine Benton of Auburndale, Lunenburg County, has been a lawyer for 22 years. Prior to joining Nova Scotia Legal Aid, Judge Benton worked as a researcher with the Union of Nova Scotia Indians and the Mi’kmaq Grand Council. She earned her law degree from Dalhousie University in 1993 and was appointed to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1994. She received her Queen's Counsel designation in January 2016.
Judge Benton was also a member of the board of directors for the Tawaak Housing Association, and a former board member with the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre and the Mi’kmaq Justice Institute, a forerunner of the Mi’kmaw Legal Support Network.
Judge Ronda van der Hoek
Judge van der Hoek, who lives in Windsor, N.S., has practiced law for 19 years. In addition to working with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, she has also worked as a lawyer with Nova Scotia Legal Aid in Windsor and Halifax.
Judge van der Hoek is the federal co-chair of the Justice Committee of the Mi’kmaq-Nova Scotia-Canada Tripartite Forum and helped co-found the New Booker School, an independent, not-for profit elementary school in Port Williams. It is the first school in the Maritimes offering an International Baccalaureate Program for the primary years.
"A well-qualified and well-rounded Judiciary that reflects the society and the people it serves increases people’s confidence in the Courts and the justice system. A diverse Judiciary is also a reminder of our province’s cultural richness. Nova Scotians are fortunate to have these dedicated individuals presiding over criminal and family matters in this province.”
- Chief Judge Pamela Williams
With these new appointments, there are now 34 full-time sitting Judges and four part-time Judges on the Provincial and Family Courts. Fifteen of those Judges are women.