Shannon B. Mason, a former Nova Scotia Legal Aid lawyer in Sydney, N.S., is the newest judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division).

The judicial appointment, effective immediately, was announced earlier today in a news release from the Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada.

“We are delighted to have Justice Mason joining the Supreme Court,” said The Hon. Deborah K. Smith, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. “She clearly has the experience and expertise required to hear family law matters, which is important because these types of cases tend to be some of the most difficult that the Court hears. On behalf of the entire Bench, I welcome Justice Mason and wish her all the best in her new role.”

Today’s appointment fills one of two vacancies on the Supreme Court (Family Division). Justice Mason will preside in Sydney, taking over from Justice Kenneth Haley, who elected supernumerary status on Feb. 12, 2023.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the Family Division judges in Sydney for all of their hard work in covering the Sydney docket while this position was vacant,” said Chief Justice Smith.  

The Hon. Justice Shannon B. Mason

Justice Shannon B. Mason obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, double major in Political Science and English, from Cape Breton University in 2000, and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2003 from the University of New Brunswick. She was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2004.

Justice Mason started her legal career in private practice, eventually accepting a position with Nova Scotia Legal Aid in 2005. At the beginning of her career, she practiced both family and criminal law, but has focused primarily on child protection cases since 2014. She has served as Chair of Nova Scotia Legal Aid’s Children and Family Services Act Best Practices Committee. 

Justice Mason has been an active member of the legal community.  At the time of her appointment, she was serving her second term on the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS) Council. She also sat on the NSBS Complaints Investigation Committee, the Professional Standards (Family Law) Committee and the Distinguished Service Award Committee. Justice Mason was also an active member of the Cape Breton Barristers’ Society, having served as a past President. She also sat on the Supreme Court Family Division Liaison Committee, the Court Administration Collaboration Committee, and the Library Committee.