The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia has welcomed two new judges with the appointments of the Honourable Justice Bryna Hatt and the Honourable Justice Michelle Kelly.

The appointments, effective immediately, were announced by the federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada earlier today.

“The Supreme Court of Nova Scota is pleased to welcome Justice Hatt and Justice Kelly to our Bench,” said the Hon. Deborah K. Smith, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. “Both have had exceptional careers, and I know will be outstanding assets to the Supreme Court. Nova Scotians will be well-served by these judicial appointments.”

The Hon. Bryna Hatt

Justice Bryna Hatt graduated from Dalhousie Law School (now Schulich School of Law) in 2007 and later went on to earn a Master of Law degree from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School. She was called to the Bar in 2008.

She was appointed a Judge of the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia in February 2023.

As a lawyer, she worked in private practice, specializing in Indigenous, labour and employment law. She also served as an adjudicator with the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court and taught Business Law at St. Francis Xavier University’s Schwartz School of Business.

As a judge, Justice Hatt served as one of the Provincial Court representatives on the All Courts Technology Committee and was a member of the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges’ Committee of the Law.

Justice Hatt will preside in Pictou.

The Hon. Michelle Kelly

Justice Michelle Kelly earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen’s University in 2000 and a Law Degree from the University of New Brunswick in 2003. She was called to the Bar in 2004.

As a lawyer, she worked in private practice, specializing in complex commercial litigation and insurance work. She has served as President of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and as Chair of The Coalition of Provincial and Territorial Advisory Councils on the Status of Women.

She was designated Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2021. She is fully bilingual in English and French.

Justice Kelly will preside in Bridgewater.

There is currently one vacancy in the Supreme Court (Family Division).