Three new judges have been appointed to the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia.

Earlier today, Nova Scotia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice announced the appointments of Jennifer MacLellan, K.C., Christa MacKinnon, and Cameron MacKeen.

“The Provincial Court of Nova Scotia is pleased to welcome these three new, well-qualified judges to our Bench,” said the Hon. Perry Borden, Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia. “Each one has had an exceptional legal career. I know they will be tremendous assets to the Court and serve the people of Nova Scotia well in their new positions.”

Judge MacKinnon will preside in Sydney and Judge MacKeen will preside in Pictou. Judge MacLellan will initially preside in Sydney before moving to a rotation between courthouses in Truro, Shubenacadie, and Pictou.

These appointments fill vacancies created by the retirements of Judge James Burrill and Judge Ann Marie Simmons, and the appointment of Justice Bryna Hatt to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

The Hon. Judge Jennifer MacLellan

Judge MacLellan was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1995. She has most recently worked as Chief of Appeals for the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service in Halifax. She is an International Fellow of the National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute and co-author of Qualifying and Challenging Expert Evidence. Judge MacLellan received her King’s Counsel designation in 2016.

The Hon. Judge Cameron MacKeen

Judge MacKeen has been a lawyer in Halifax since 2003. Before that he was a journalist. He had a private practice before joining Nova Scotia Legal Aid as a staff lawyer in 2013. Since 2022, he has been a managing lawyer for Halifax South office, the largest office in the province, working with and mentoring young lawyers within the organization. Judge MacKeen is a member of the Nova Scotia Criminal Lawyers’ Association and a past member of the Dalhousie Legal Aid board of governors.

The Hon. Judge Christa MacKinnon

Based in Sydney, Judge MacKinnon has been a practising member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society since 1999 and the Cape Breton Barristers’ Society since 2008. She began her career with Justice Canada, Tax Law Services, in Halifax. In 2008, she began working with the Public Prosecution Service as a Crown Attorney until she was appointed a federal prosecutor for cases in Sydney in 2023. Judge MacKinnon previously conducted court martial proceedings as a reservist with the Canadian Forces.