The Honourable Chief Justice Deborah K. Smith is pleased to welcome The Honourable Frank P. Hoskins, formerly a judge of the Provincial Court, as the newest justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

The federal Minister of Justice made the announcement in a news release on Friday, July 2. Justice Hoskins will preside primarily in Pictou, N.S.

“I am confident that Justice Hoskins will prove to be a valuable addition to our Court,” said Chief Justice Smith. “He has decades of experience, both as a lawyer and a judge, and has generously donated his time to helping teach law students and lawyers, and train judges across the country. Nova Scotians are fortunate to have someone of his caliber serving on the Bench.”

Justice Frank P. Hoskins was born and raised in Halifax. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1981, and a Bachelor of Education in 1983 from Saint Mary’s University. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie Law School in 1989. He was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in 1990 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006.

Justice Hoskins was appointed a judge of the Provincial and Family Courts of Nova Scotia in 2008. His main area of practice prior to being appointed to the Bench was criminal law.

Justice Hoskins is an Honourary Executive Member of the Canadian Judges Forum (Canadian Bar Association) and is past President of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court Judges Association. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Bar Council, where he served on numerous Bar Society Committees.

Justice Hoskins has been an instructor at various legal education programs, including those offered by the National Judicial Institute, Canadian Bar Association, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, Saint Mary’s University and Dalhousie Law School.

Justice Hoskins is a Lifetime Faculty Member of the National Criminal Law Program, having served as a faculty member from 2001 to 2018. He is a co-author of The Trial of Sexual Offence Cases, Second Edition. Including this most recent appointment, there are now 39 full-time and 10 supernumerary judges on the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (General and Family Divisions).