Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, yesterday named a new Chief Justice for Quebec’s Court of Appeal, the highest court in the province.
Manon Savard, who holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (1982, Great Distinction) from McGill, will replace Nicole Duval Hesler, the first woman Chief Justice of Quebec. Hesler retired on April 8.
“I wish the Honourable Manon Savard continued success as she takes on her new role of Chief Justice of Quebec,” said the Prime Minister in announcing the appointment. “Chief Justice Savard brings 23 years of experience practising law in Montreal and, more recently, over 10 years of service as a judge in Quebec. I am confident she will serve Quebecers well in her new position.”
Chief Justices in Canada are responsible for the leadership and administration of their courts. They also serve as members of the Canadian Judicial Council, which works to improve the quality of judicial service in the superior courts of Canada.
The Chief Justice of Quebec is a judge of the Court of Appeal and exercises the duties of that office as part of a team of 21 other regular judges.
Originally from Montreal, Savard was admitted to the Barreau du Québec in 1986. She spent 23 years with the law firm Ogilvy Renault, now known as Norton Rose Fulbright.
During the course of her legal career, Savard developed expertise in the fields of employment and labour law, human rights, and administrative law. She also taught at the École du Barreau, and served as a member of the Disciplinary Council of the Barreau du Québec. In addition, she served on the Conseil consultatif du travail et de la main-d’oeuvre, advising the Quebec Minister of Labour on legislative issues related to employment and labour law.
Appointed to the Superior Court in July 2009, she sat in that court’s commercial, civil, and administrative divisions. She was a member of the Civil Procedure Rules Committee, and in charge of the Student Interns Committee.
Savard was appointed to the Court of Appeal in April 2013. Since September 2013, she has been a member of the Planning Committee of the Canadian Superior Court Judges Association.
McGill has never offered a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She received a Bachelor of Commerce.