Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces judicial appointments in the province of Ontario

November 1, 2024  – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada  

The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments 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.

The Honourable Scott N. Latimer, a Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice in Milton, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Welland. Justice Latimer replaces Justice D.L. Edwards (Welland), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective December 13, 2022.

Amy J. Ohler, a sole practitioner in Toronto, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in St. Catharines. Justice Ohler replaces Justice K.A. Carpenter-Gunn (Hamilton), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective February 20, 2023. Due to internal court transfers by the Chief Justice, the vacancy is located in St. Catharines.

Quote

“I wish Justices Latimer and Ohler every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve Ontarians well as members of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario”.

—The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Biographies

Justice Scott N. Latimer was born and raised in Northern Ontario, in Thunder Bay.  He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lakehead University in 1999 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick in 2002.  He was admitted to the Law Society of Ontario in 2003.

Justice Latimer was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in 2017. He was active in judicial administration and education, acting as local administrative judge in Halton Region and the OCJ’s West Region Educational Co-chair. He chaired multiple committees that sought to improve access to justice for Indigenous persons in Halton and Waterloo Regions and co-chaired a committee that provided free continuing legal education to legal professionals in Halton Region. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Justice Latimer was counsel at the Crown Law Office – Criminal in Toronto.  He argued criminal appeals before the Court of Appeal for Ontario and provided legal advice to Crown Attorneys and investigators, particularly in the areas of cybercrime and online child exploitation.  He was also an Assistant Crown Attorney in Peel Region, appearing before the Ontario and Superior Courts of Justice. 

Justice Latimer has been committed to continuing legal education throughout his career, regularly lecturing to the bench and bar throughout Ontario.  He has also published several journal articles in criminal law. 

Justice Latimer lives in Oakville with his wife, Patti, and their children, Finlay and Braden. 

Justice Amy J. Ohler was born and raised in Windsor. She received a BA and MA in Philosophy from the University of Windsor and McMaster University, respectively. In 2008, she graduated from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law and completed dual articles of clerkship at the Court of Appeal for Ontario and Superior Court of Justice, Central West Region. She received her LLM from the University of Cambridge in 2011 and summered at the Inns of Court in London as a Pegasus Trust scholar. She was called to the bar in Ontario in 2010. 

Justice Ohler practiced criminal and regulatory law, with a special focus on appeals.  She has appeared at every level of court in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada.  She has taught at the law schools at the University of Windsor and Queen’s University and tutored aspiring lawyers for the Law Society of Ontario Barrister examination. She has been committed to providing pro bono legal services, including as a member of the Barbra Schilfer Commemorative Clinic – Criminalization of Women Project and duty counsel at the Law Society of Ontario. Since 2016, she has been an active member of the Pro Bono Inmate Appeal Program, arguing appeals on behalf of unrepresented and indigent appellants in the Court of Appeal for Ontario.