Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment in the province of Québec
News release
December 20, 2021 – Ottawa, Ontario
Department of Justice Canada
The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
Azimuddin Hussain, Partner at NOVAlex in Montréal, is appointed a puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Montréal. Justice Hussain replaces Justice P. Kalichman (Montréal), who was elevated to the Court of Appeal effective April 26, 2021.
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“I wish Justice Hussain every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve the people of Québec well as a member of the Superior Court.”
The Hon. David Lametti
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biography
Justice Azimuddin Hussain graduated from McGill University’s Faculty of Law with degrees in civil law and common law (Great Distinction, Dean’s Honour List). He had previously earned a B.A. in Sociology (First Class Honours, Dean’s Honour List) from McGill University and M.Sc. in Sociology (Distinction) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 2001 and the Law Society of Ontario since 2002.
Justice Hussain clerked for the Honourable Justice Charles Gonthier of the Supreme Court of Canada in 2001-2002. He started his career in 2002 as a litigator at Ogilvy Renault LLP, which later became part of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP. His practice covered a wide range of commercial and civil disputes before arbitral tribunals, and all levels of court in Quebec, the federal courts, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has extensive experience in multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes, involving complex issues of conflicts of laws and jurisdiction. His practice included litigation of matters under constitutional law, notably the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and public law generally, including the liability and immunity of foreign states. He is the co-author of a forthcoming book called Annotated State Immunity Act / Loi sur l'immunité des États annotée. In October 2020, Justice Hussain became a partner at NOVAlex Law Firm Inc., where he devoted a considerable portion of his practice to pro bono cases to facilitate access to justice, especially on matters of public importance.
Justice Hussain is fluently trilingual in English, French, and Urdu, and speaks basic conversational Hindi. He is the proud father of two teenaged daughters.
Quick facts
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At the Superior Court level, more than 495 judges have been appointed since November 2015. These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens Canada. Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of visible minorities, Indigenous, LGBTQ2+, and those who self-identify as having a disability.
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The Government of Canada is committed to promoting access to justice for all Canadians. To improve outcomes for Canadian families, Budget 2018 provides funding of $77.2 million over four years to support the expansion of unified family courts, beginning in 2019-2020. This investment in the family justice system will create 39 new judicial positions in Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Federal judicial appointments are made by the Governor General, acting on the advice of the federal Cabinet and recommendations from the Minister of Justice.
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The Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented.
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Significant reforms to the role and structure of the Judicial Advisory Committees, aimed at enhancing the independence and transparency of the process, were announced on October 20, 2016.
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The Government of Canada is committed to promoting a justice system in which sexual assault matters are decided fairly, without the influence of myths and stereotypes, and in which survivors are treated with dignity and compassion. Changes to the Judges Act and Criminal Code, which came into force on May 6, 2021, mean that in order to be eligible for appointment to a provincial superior court, candidates must agree to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context, which includes systemic racism and systemic discrimination. The new legislation enhances the transparency of decisions by amending the Criminal Code to require that judges provide written reasons, or enter them into the record, when deciding sexual assault matters.
Contacts
For more information, media may contact:
Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-6568
Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207
media@justice.gc.ca
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