Howard will oversee the southwest region
Justice minister and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani has appointed J. Paul R. Howard as regional senior judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario.
Howard takes R.M. Pomerance’s place on the bench, overseeing the southwest region. Pomerance was elevated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario on July 19.
Howard was a judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Windsor. He was first appointed to the court in 2015, replacing Terrence L.J. Patterson after Patterson became a supernumerary judge in May 2014.
His practice focused on civil litigation, administrative law, constitutional law, employment law, and labour law. Prior to becoming a judge, he worked with Shibley Righton LLP; he joined the firm as an associate in 1988 and made partner in 2004.
Howard was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1988. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto in 1986 – he also holds a Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction (Political Science) degree from the same university.
He got his Master of Laws degree in 1995 from Osgoode Hall Law School. In 2000, he began teaching law at the University of Windsor.
“I wish Justice Howard every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Ontarians well as a Regional Senior Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario,” Virani said in a statement.
According to the government, Howard was named to his new role under the judicial appointment process launched in 2016. The governor general makes federal judicial appointments based on federal Cabinet advice and the justice minister’s recommendations.
Judicial advisory committees help review judicial applications; 17 of these committees have been established across Canada representing each province and territory. In 2016, the role and structure of these committees underwent significant reforms to improve the process’ independence and transparency.
