Ontario Superior Court of Justice welcomes five new judges

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti has announced the appointments of Lia Bramwell, Julie Bergeron, Jaye Hooper, Ian Carter, and Sharon Hassan to the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario.

“I wish Justices Bramwell, Bergeron, Hooper, Carter, and Hassan 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 Bramwell and Bergeron to Cornwall, while Hooper, Carter, and Hassan will sit in Pembroke, Ottawa, and London.

Justice Bramwell is a former assistant Crown attorney with the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario. She replaces Justice Rick Leroy, who was elected as a supernumerary judge in July 2021.

Bramwell practised civil litigation in Toronto before becoming an assistant Crown attorney. For over 20 years, she prosecuted criminal cases in the Ontario Court of Justice and the Ontario Superior Court.

She often took part in various legal education programs for Crown attorneys, police, defence counsel, law students, and high school students. She became part of the Ministry of the Attorney General and the University of Ottawa’s mentorship programs.

Throughout her career, Bramwell has been involved in several legal associations. She was a committee member of the Ontario Crown Attorneys’ Association and the Ontario Justice Education Network and a board member of Immigrant Women Services of Ottawa.

She earned her law degree from the University of Windsor in 1997 and was called to the Ontario bar in 1999.

When she was appointed, Justice Bergeron was operating her own law firm in Hawkesbury. She replaces Justice Gary Tranmer, who opted to become a supernumerary judge in March 2022.

Bergeron has practised family and real estate law and represented clients before the Ontario Divisional Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal. In 2019, she became a deputy judge in the Small Claims Court.

She also acted as an agent for the Family Responsibility Office, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Transportation, the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. She handled municipal and criminal law matters and represented the interests of municipalities across Ontario.

Bergeron has been affiliated with various legal organizations. She was a liaison committee member of the Superior Court in Prescott and Russell, a board member of the Centre York Centre, and an ad hoc committee member of the Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario.

She obtained her law degree from the University of Ottawa in 1998 and was admitted to the Ontario bar in 2000.

Justice Hooper is a former partner at Hooper Litigation in Ottawa. She replaces Justice Martin James, who chose to become a supernumerary judge in February 2022.

Hooper spent most of her career at a boutique litigation firm in Ottawa before starting her firm, Hooper Litigation. During her practice, she has represented plaintiffs and defendants in numerous litigation matters involving personal injury, employment, professional negligence, commercial law, and construction law.

She has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Aside from her legal practice, Hooper has played an active role in the legal community. She headed the County of Carleton Law Association and the Federation of Ontario Law Associations and has frequently spoken at various legal conferences.

She received her law degree from the University of Windsor in 1999 and was called to the Ontario bar in 2001.

When he received his appointment, Justice Carter was a partner at Bayne Sellar Ertel Carter in Ottawa. He replaces Justice Stanley Kershman, who elected to become a supernumerary judge in January 2022.

Carter began his legal career as a law clerk with the British Columbia Court of Appeal. He then practised criminal and civil law in Vancouver before joining Bayne Sellar Boxall in Ottawa in 2008.

He has conducted trials in multiple provinces and argued numerous appeals before the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Besides his criminal defence work, he has acted for complainants in sexual assault cases.

Carter is a former executive member of the national criminal justice section of the Canadian Bar Association. He is a frequent lecturer for legal and judicial education programs and has published several articles on criminal law issues.

He earned his law degree from Queen’s University in 2002 and was admitted to the BC bar in 2003.

Justice Hassan is a former managing partner at Hassan Law in London. She replaces Justice Victor Mitrow, who opted to become a supernumerary judge in February 2022.

Hassan started her law practice with Aston Berg Kennedy & Morrissey in London. She specializes in family law, wills and estate planning, civil litigation, and employment law.

She eventually joined her spouse, Hamoody Hassan, at his firm, Hassan Law, where she developed broad expertise in family law.

Aside from her legal work, Hassan is a member of numerous community organizations, including the Canadian Hearing Society, the London Abused Women’s Centre, Indwell London, and Forest City Community Church.

She received her law degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1991 and was called to the Ontario bar in 1993.