Four new judges join Ontario Superior Court of Justice

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti has announced the appointments of Peter Osborne, Suzan Fraser, Robert Centa, and Amelia Daurio to the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario.

“I wish Justice Osborne, Fraser, Centa and Daurio every success as they take on their new roles,” Lametti said. “I am confident they will serve the people of Ontario well as members of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario.”

The federal government assigned Osborne and Centa to Toronto and Fraser and Daurio to Newmarket.

Justice Osborne is a former partner at Lenczner Slaght LLP in Toronto. He replaces Justice Alfred O’Marra, who opted to become a supernumerary judge in May 2021.

Osborne has been with Lenczner Slaght for 28 years. He has handled insolvency, shareholder rights, corporate governance, and professional discipline matters.

Aside from his legal work, Osborne has mentored young lawyers, lectured on trial advocacy at Osgoode Hall Law School and the University of Toronto, taught bar admission courses in Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, and participated in various legal education programs.

Osbourne was previously inducted as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers − a professional trial lawyers association in the U.S. and Canada. He also served as a director of the Advocates’ Society.

He earned his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1990 and was called to the Ontario bar in 1992.

Justice Fraser was a principal lawyer at her law firm, Fraser Advocacy, in Toronto when she received her appointment. She replaces Justice Michael McKelvey, who elected to become a supernumerary judge on Jan. 1.

Fraser has broad experience advising on mental health law and defending the rights of vulnerable groups. She has represented several families and organizations in public inquiries and appeared before all levels of Canadian courts, the Ontario Review Board, and other tribunals.

Fraser taught mental health law subjects at York University and Osgoode Hall Law School. She also served as a director of Sound Times Support Services − a charitable organization that provides mental health and addiction services in downtown Toronto.

She obtained her law degree from Western University in 1993 and was admitted to the Ontario bar in 1995.

Justice Centa is a former managing partner at Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP in Toronto. He replaces Justice Glenn Hainey, who passed away in Oct. 2021.

Centa has extensive expertise in public law and business litigation. He has represented various universities and public bodies, such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Human Rights Watch, and the Advocates’ Society.

Centa taught courses in trial advocacy and legal ethics at the University of Toronto throughout his legal career. In 2014, he received the Douglas K. Laidlaw Medal for Excellence in Advocacy. The Laidlaw Medal is the highest honour conferred by the Advocates’ Society for mid-career advocates to recognize their oral advocacy skills across diverse practice areas.

He received his law degree from the University of Toronto in 1999 and was called to the Ontario bar in 2001.

Justice Daurio was operating her law firm, AMD Law, in Etobicoke when she was appointed. She replaces Justice Ronald Kaufman, who chose to become a supernumerary judge in June 2021.

Before venturing into private practice, Daurio was with Children’s Aid Society as a counsel for 11 years. She has dealt with complex issues involving domestic violence, mental health, addiction, physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and systemic discrimination.

Daurio sat as a board director of the York Region Law Association, the Family Lawyers Association, and the Durham Region Law Association. She presented at numerous conferences and mentored law students and young lawyers.

She obtained her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2004 and was admitted to the Ontario bar in 2005.