“The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee process was established in 1995 to ensure that Executive Council receives independent non-partisan advice on the suitability of applicants for appointment to the Provincial Court,” said Attorney General Dover. “There are many candidates across the province who would be a welcomed addition to the Provincial Court. The committee has a challenging task ahead and I am confident they will provide Executive Council with excellent recommendations.”

This will be the third time that a Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee has been struck. The committee will consist of the Chief Judge John Douglas as chair, Douglas R. Drysdale Q.C. as appointed by the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, Tracey D. Cutcliffe as appointed by the Prince Edward Island Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, and George Roberts and Albert Fogarty as appointed by the Attorney General. The Deputy Attorney General will provide executive assistance to the committee.

The position will be advertised through newspapers and the Law Society of Prince Edward Island. The Judicial Candidate Information Form is available at the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, 49 Water Street, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K2, Telephone (902) 566-1666 or through the provincial government web page at www.gov.pe.ca/go/judge. Applications must be received by Friday, August 26, 2005. Information on how to submit a completed application is available on the Judicial Candidate Information Form.

BACKGROUNDER

JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE

Purpose

To establish a mechanism for the provision of independent, non-partisan advice to the Attorney General on the suitability of applicants for appointment to the Prince Edward Island Provincial Court.

Composition

The committee is composed of five persons:

-the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court;

-a lawyer appointed by the Law Society of Prince Edward Island;

-a lawyer appointed by the PEI Branch of the Canadian Bar Association;

-two other persons appointed by the Attorney General, after consultation with the Executive Council, who are neither judges nor lawyers but by virtue of their education and employment can properly assess the qualities required of a provincial court judge.

The Chief Judge shall chair the committee.

Qualification

Persons are not eligible for appointment to the Provincial Court unless they are members in good standing of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, and have been members in good standing of the bar of a province of Canada for at least five years immediately preceding the date of appointment.

In formulating its assessments, the committee shall use the following criteria:

-personal suitability

-intellectual and judgmental ability

-professional achievement and experience

-community awareness and understanding

This process was used in 1995 and 1997 for the appointments of Judge Nancy K. Orr

and Judge John R.A. Douglas respectively.