Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment in the province of Prince Edward Island
News release
June 21, 2022 – 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.
Jonathan M. Coady, Q.C., Partner at Stewart McKelvey in Charlottetown, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. Justice Coady replaces Justice J.W. Gormley, who has been appointed Chief Justice of Prince Edward Island effective May 3, 2022.
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“I wish Justice Coady every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve the people of Prince Edward Island well as a member of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island.”
—The Hon. David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biography
Justice Jonathan M. Coady, Q.C., was born and raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He received his B.Sc. from the University of Prince Edward Island, his LL.B. from Dalhousie University, and his LL.M. from the University of Cambridge. He was called to the bars of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in 2007.
Justice Coady served as law clerk to the Honourable Eleanor R. Dawson of the Federal Court before returning home to start a litigation practice at Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales. He practised mainly in areas of public law, including criminal law, constitutional law and administrative law, and appeared at all levels of court in Prince Edward Island. He also appeared as counsel on a number of occasions before the Supreme Court of Canada. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2019.
Justice Coady has contributed to the legal community as a teacher, author, and volunteer. He was a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Prince Edward Island and an instructor for the PEI Law Society Bar Admission Course. He served on the board of directors of the Canadian Bar Association and was the chairperson of its National Administrative Law Section. He was a frequent speaker at legal education programs and published articles in the Queen’s Law Journal and the University of New Brunswick Law Journal. He also served as an advocacy advisor with the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute.
Justice Coady and his family live in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Quick facts
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At the Superior Court level, more than 545 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 that 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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