Impact to Court Operations at Devonshire Courthouse
Until further notice, due to ongoing remediation work at the courthouse at 3380 Devonshire Ave., court matters scheduled at that location will proceed by videoconference, telephone or in person at the Law Courts, 1815 Upper Water St., Halifax. The Scheduling Office is in the process of contacting counsel and parties with instructions for each matter.
 
The Court Administration Office is continuing to accept filings; however, the documents counter is temporarily relocated to the main floor of the courthouse. Similarly, the front counter for the Family Law Information Program (FLIP) is temporarily relocated to the scheduling window, just inside the main entrance. Other family law programming, including conciliation and alternative dispute resolution, will proceed by telephone.
 
Holiday Reminder
Courthouses across the province will be closed on Monday, August 3 (Civic Holiday), reopening on Tuesday, August 4.

Justice LouAnn Chiasson Retires from the Supreme Court

A portrait of the Honourable C. LouAnn Chiasson, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia

The Honourable C. LouAnn Chiasson, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, is retiring after a 34-year career, including 11 years on the Family Division Bench.

“Justice Chiasson has committed her career to family law, an area of law that can be particularly difficult, involving some of the most personal and sensitive issues in people’s lives,” said the Honourable Deborah K. Smith, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. “Upon her retirement, we acknowledge and celebrate Justice Chiasson’s many contributions to our Court and province. I wish her all the best on a well-deserved retirement.”

Justice Chiasson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of King’s College in 1987 and a Bachelor of Law degree from Dalhousie University in 1991.

She was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1992 and worked in private practice, with a concentration in family law. As a lawyer, Justice Chiasson was active within professional organizations and volunteered her time with many community groups. She was designated Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2012.

Justice Chiasson was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia on February 6, 2015.

Justice Chiasson’s retirement is effective August 1, 2026. Justice Chiasson is a full-time judge, and her departure creates a vacancy on the Supreme Court. There are currently two vacancies on the Supreme Court – one in the General Division and one in the Family Division.