“I express my sincere congratulations to these members of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island who are the newest recipients of this designation, which has a long and historic tradition in our province,” said Attorney General Dover. “Each of these individuals is being recognized for his or her exceptional merit and contribution to the legal profession and I am proud to support their appointments.”

Appointments are recommended to the Lieutenant Governor in Council by a Queen’s Counsel Committee consisting of the President of the Law Society, a member appointed by Council, one person appointed by the Attorney General, a justice of the Supreme Court and a judge of the Provincial Court. The appointments are made pursuant to subsection 34(1) of the Legal Profession Act.

BACKGROUNDER

John A. McMillan, Charlottetown, was called to the Bar in Prince Edward Island on March 1, 1985. Prior to going to law school, he taught at Souris Regional High School from 1977 to 1981. He practised with the firm of Foster O’Keefe from 1985 until 1997. He has worked with the Crown Attorneys Office since March 3, 1997. He has been the Legal Education Coordinator for the PEI Law Society since 1996 and is responsible for organizing the Bar Admission Course for Articling Clerks, and organizing Continuing Legal Education seminars for members and clerks. He has been active in the community, having served on the Board of Management for the PEI Lung Association from 1985 until 1993 and on the Board of St. John House Inc. from 1991 until 1999.

Mary-Lynn Kane, Charlottetown, was called to the Bar in Prince Edward Island on September 30, 1988. She works with Patterson Palmer Law where she is Managing Partner in the Charlottetown office. She practices primarily in the area of Litigation and Personal Services (Wills and Property). She has appeared in all levels of Court in Prince Edward Island and has also appeared before, and on behalf of, several Administrative Boards and Tribunals. She is a Member of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, a Member of the Home and School Association, Past Chair of Bowl for Kids Sake – Big Brothers Big Sisters, Past Board Member Big Brothers Big Sisters, and is active on several community boards including the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Lori Kane Charity Golf Classic.

James W. Gormley, Charlottetown, was called to the Bar in Prince Edward Island on August 16, 1990. He joined the firm of Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales in 1989 and became a partner in 1997. He practices in the area of civil litigation with a concentration on medical malpractice defence, occupational health and safety law and criminal law. He has represented the interests of professional associations in the defence of medical malpractice claims as well as before administrative tribunals in professional disciplinary matters in health care, professional liability and employment matters. Mr. Gormley has also practiced in the area of criminal law, in particular as a prosecutor for the Federal Department of Justice, and has defended both corporations and individuals in all levels of court in Prince Edward Island. Mr. Gormley is a member of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, past President of the Canadian Bar Association Prince Edward Island Branch, past President of the University of Prince Edward Island Alumni Association and past member of the University of Prince Edward Island Board of Governors. He has been a presenter in numerous seminars and lectures in the area of occupational health and safety law, health law and criminal law.

Patricia L. Cheverie, Summerside, was called to the Bar in Prince Edward Island on August 28, 1992. She began working with the Legal Aid Office August 23, 1993. Ms Cheverie was recently named an “International Fellow” by the International Legal Foundation and is currently on a three-month leave of absence serving as a volunteer legal advisor to local lawyers in Kabul, Afghanistan. The mission is part of a UN reconstruction project in that country. At the time of her departure for Afghanistan, she was President of the PEI section of the John Howard Society and a Director of the John Howard Society Canada. She is President of the New London chapter of the Prince Edward Island Women’s Institute. She has extensive experience in the practice of Criminal Law in this province and has been active in a number of provincial justice advisory committees over the years.