Category Archives: Press Releases

Justice Côté

CCAIFJ fête 25 ans de protection des droits de femmes dans le système de justice

Lundi 6 mai 2019 (Halifax, N.-É.) – Pour fêter son 25e anniversaire, le chapitre canadien de l’Association internationale des femmes juges (CCAIFJ) remet à deux de ces anciennes présidentes le prix d’excellence.

L’honorable Petra Newton, de la cour de justice de l’Ontario, était à Halifax la semaine dernière pour recevoir son prix, dans le cadre de la congrès national CCAIFJ de 2019. L’honorable Danielle Côté, de la cour du Québec, n’a pas pu assister car elle était hors du pays.« La CCAIFJ a pour mission de renforcer le travail des femmes juges à l’échelle nationale et internationale dans la recherche de l’égalité, de l’indépendance de la justice et de la primauté du droit », dit l’hon. Mona Lynch, juge à la cour suprême de la Nouvelle-Écosse et présidente du chapitre canadien de l’AIFJ. Les juges Newton et Côté ont consacré de nombreuses heures à des initiatives permettant aux femmes de participer de façon pleine et entière au système de justice.

« Au nom de tous nos membres, nous sommes très heureuses de rendre hommage à ces juristes distinguées. »
La juge Newton, qui a pris sa retraite à titre de juge le 1er mai 2019, était présidente du chapitre canadien de l’AIFJ de 2009 à 2011. La juge Côté a été présidente de 2011 à 2013.

Justice Newton

la juge Newton

Avant d’être nommée juge en 1989, la juge Newton était procureure de la couronne au Manitoba et en Ontario, et avant cela, elle était avocate de la défense pénale et un avocat avec l’aide juridique.

Elle a participé à un grand nombre d’initiatives de formation juridique, notamment au sujet des femmes et des filles dans le système de justice, le maintien des femmes dans la profession juridique, le droit criminel et le droit autochtone.

Elle faisait aussi partie du conseil d’administration de l’Association internationale des femmes juges (AIFJ) et du Gale Moot.

À l’échelle internationale, le juge Newton était membre de la délégation canadienne aux conférences de l’AIFJ en Australie, au Panama, en Corée du Sud, en Angleterre et aux Etats Unis. En 2014, elle a été élue au conseil d’administration mondial de l’AIFJ représentant l’Amérique du Nord pour le mandat 2014-2016 et a été réélue en 2016 pour le mandat 2016-2018.

Justice Petra Newton_Bio

Justice Côté

la juge Côté

Admise au Barreau en 1978, la juge Danielle Côté est spécialisée en droit du travail et droit des sociétés. En 1983, elle a été nommée sous-procureure générale du droit pénal à Sherbrooke, Québec. De 1989 à 1994, elle a exercé les fonctions de procureur au ministère fédéral de la justice à Montréal.

Elle a été nommée juge à la Cour du Québec en ce qui concerne les matières civiles et pénales en novembre 1994. Elle a occupé le poste de juge présidente adjointe à la Chambre criminelle et pénal du 16 juin 2011 au 15 juin 2018.

Justice Danielle Cote_Bio

A tous les deux ans, la CCAIFJ collabore avec l’institut nationale de la magistrature pour organiser un congrès pour leurs membres canadiens et canadiennes. Cette année, le congrès a eu lieu à Halifax, N.S. du 30 avril au 2 mai, intitule : La Cour moderne : s’adapter au jugement dans un âge complexe.

L’Association internationale des femmes juges (AIFJ) est une organisation non gouvernementale à but non lucratif dont les membres représentent tous les niveaux de l’appareil judiciaire dans le monde et partagent un engagement en faveur d’une justice égale pour les femmes et de la loi. Créé en 1991, l’AIFJ compte désormais plus de 6 000 membres dans 100 pays, dont le Canada, qui s’est joint à nous en 1994.

Pour plus d’informations sur la section canadienne, veuillez visiter https://iawjcc.com/.

Contact média:
Jennifer Stairs
902-221-5257
stairsjl@courts.ns.ca

Justice Newton

CCIAWJ Celebrates 25 Years Protecting Rights of Women in the Justice System

Monday, May 6, 2019 (Halifax, NS) – To help mark its 25th anniversary this year, the Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (CCIAWJ) is honouring two of its Past Presidents with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Hon. Petra Newton of the Ontario Court of Justice was in Halifax last week to receive her award, as part of the 2019 CCIAWJ national conference. The second recipient, The Hon. Danielle Côté of the Court of Quebec, was out of the country and unable to attend the ceremony.

“The mission of the CCIAWJ is to enhance the work of women judges nationally and internationally in pursuit of equality, judicial independence, and the rule of law,” said The Hon. Mona Lynch, a Justice on the Nova Scotia Supreme Court and the current President of the CCIAWJ. “Even before their involvement in the CCIAWJ, Justice Newton and Justice Côté devoted many hours to initiatives that enable women to participate meaningfully in the justice system.

“On behalf of all our members, we are very pleased to pay tribute to these deserving and distinguished jurists.”

Justice Newton, who retired from the Bench on May 1, 2019, was President of the CCIAWJ from 2009-11. Justice Côté served in the same role from 2011-13.

Justice Newton

Justice Newton

Prior to being appointed a Judge in 1989, Justice Petra Newton worked asa Prosecutor with the Department of Justice in both Manitoba and Ontario, and before that as criminal defence counsel and Legal Aid duty counsel.

She has been a panelist at numerous continuing education and law school programs on a variety of issues, including women and girls in the justice system, retention of women in the legal profession, criminal advocacy and aboriginal justice. Among her most significant contributions has been to the Board of theInternational Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) and The Gale Moot.

Internationally, Justice Newton was a member of the Canadian Delegation at IAWJ Conferences in Australia, Panama, South Korea, London and Washington. In 2014 she was elected to the IAWJ World Board of Directors representing North America for the term 2014-16 and was re-elected in 2016 for the 2016-18 term.

Justice Petra Newton_Bio

Justice Côté

Justice Côté

Justice Danielle Côtéwas admitted to the Bar in 1978, specialising in labour law and corporate law. In 1983, she was appointed Deputy Attorney General to practise criminal law in Sherbrooke, Que. From 1989 to 1994, she was a criminal prosecution lawyer at the Federal Department of Justice in Montreal.

She was appointed a Judge of the Court of Quebec, for the Civil, Criminal and Penal Chambers in November 1994. She held the position of Deputy Chief Justice in the criminal and Penal Chamber from June 16, 2011, until June 15, 2018.

Justice Danielle Cote_Bio

Every two years, the CCIAWJ works with the National Judicial Institute to organize a conference for Canadian judges somewhere in Canada. This year, the conference was held April 30 – May 2 in Halifax, N.S. The Modern Court: Adapting to Judging in a Complex Age, focused on issues like implicit bias, intercultural communication, public education and accessibility of the Courts in today’s changing media landscape.

The International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose members represent all levels of the judiciary worldwide and share a commitment to equal justice for women and the rule of law. Created in 1991, the IAWJ has grown to a membership of more than 6,000 in 100 countries, including Canada, which joined in 1994.

For more information on the Canadian Chapter, please visit https://iawjcc.com/.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Stairs
902-221-5257
stairsjl@courts.ns.ca

Women Judges Support Aboriginal Legal Education

PDF version of press release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Women Judges Support Aboriginal Legal Education

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – June 3, 2014 – Madam Justice Donna Wilson, Justice of Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan, stopped by the Native Law Centre to drop off a generous $3000.00 cheque from the Canadian Chapter, International Association of Women Judges (CCIAWJ). The funding will support the CCIAWJ’s priorities within the Program of Legal Studies for Native People (PLSNP).

As CCIAWJ Past President Justice Louise Charbonneau explains, the CCIAWJ’s objectives are, “among others, to implement and encourage strategies to achieve gender equality in the justice system; to assist women to participate meaningfully in the justice system in Canada; to promote the appointment of women judges at all levels of court.” Currently, despite many gains, women remain underrepresented in the judiciary, and there is even less representation of Aboriginal women in the judiciary. “For that to change,” says Justice Charbonneau, “more Native women need to become engaged in the practice of law.”

In pursuit of the goal to support more Aboriginal women in law, the CCIAWJ has entered into a partnership with the PLSNP to provide $3000.00 per year for five years. The donation is used for a variety of the PLSNP’s needs, from supporting an Aboriginal woman who wishes to attend the PLSNP but cannot afford the associated costs, to providing enriching educational experiences such as female Aboriginal guest speakers. The CCIAWJ’s donation reflects the members’ commitment to supporting Aboriginal women pursuing law in any way that is required.

Justice Wilson sees that the CCIAWJ’s support of Aboriginal women results in positive changes in the legal profession. “First Nations women lawyers are making significant contributions in all areas of law. There are First Nations lawyers practicing family law, dealing with child welfare issues, representing accused in criminal matters, and performing corporate services for First Nations’ organizations.” Justice Wilson refers to the women lawyers as “role models for the First Nations women going to law school at the University of Saskatchewan and … role models for First Nations women as they enter the workforce.”

The PLSNP is an eight-week national summer program that prepares Aboriginal students for law school. Aboriginal students from across Canada arrive in Saskatoon to study Property Law and learn legal reading, legal writing, and legal analysis skills. In the process, they develop friendships, which create a strong network of Aboriginal legal professionals who support each other in their careers. Given that Aboriginal people are underrepresented in the legal community, the strength of the network contributes to robust cooperation and communication between Aboriginal people in the legal profession.

On May 20, the PLSNP welcomed the 42nd cohort of students. The incoming students join more than 1000 PLSNP graduates, many of whom have become lawyers, judges, government officials, and leaders in policy development, research, and education.

For more information, please contact
Tanya Andrusieczko, Communications Coordinator, Program of Legal Studies for Native People.
Tel.: (306) 966-6197
Email: tanya.andrusieczko@usask.ca