THUNDER BAY — Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani has announced several judicial appointments for the Province of Ontario, including two in Thunder Bay.
One is a new appointment to the Superior Court of Justice, while the other involves a move from the Ontario Court of Justice to the Superior Court.
Chantal M. Brochu, currently serving in the OCJ, goes to Superior Court to replace Justice Bonnie Warkentin, who stepped down in September 2024.
Raised in Longlac, she obtained her law degree in 1999 and was appointed to the OCJ in 2017, where she has presided over family and criminal matters in both official languages.
Prior to her judicial appointment, she was a partner at Buset & Partners LLP and specialized in civil litigation.
Robin A. Lepere is named to the Superior Court to replace Justice R.D. Gordon of Sudbury, who elected to become a part-time judge last year. Due to internal court transfers by the Chief Justice, that vacancy is now located in Thunder Bay.
Justice Lepere, born and raised in Thunder Bay, obtained her law degree in 2005.
She was a partner with Petrone & Partners where she had a diverse civil litigation practice.
The president of the Thunder Bay Law Association enthusiastically welcomed both appointments.
"They're both excellent," said local lawyer Jordan Lester. "Madam Justice Brochu and Justice Lepere are former members of our association, held in very high regard, and they're going to make absolutely excellent justices. We're so happy for them."
In the bigger picture, Lester said, the appointments are significant for justice in Northwestern Ontario because the region now has one more judge than it previously did.
"More judges directly correlates to more access to justice. One of the issues plaguing our court system right how is delay. That's not the fault of our current justices or court staff. It's just the reality of the volume of cases that are dominating the courts' time, and it means that other matters like civil of family disputes are being left behind, and it's taking awhile to get to court."
He described the importance of the appointments as "huge," adding they are the product of considerable advocacy work from a lot of different people and organizations.
"It's something we've been hoping for in our region for a long time, and I'm just so thrilled that it's finally here."
