The Hon. Justice N. M. (Nick) Scaravelli is retiring from the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, effective Oct. 31, 2021. He has served as a judge on that Court for almost 15 years.

“Justice Scaravelli is a well-known and respected figure in the legal community, particularly in Pictou County, where he has served most of his time on the Bench,” said The Hon. Deborah K. Smith, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

“He is an experienced jurist with the ability to hear a wide range of cases, including family matters. You cannot overstate the importance of having that kind of versatility on your Bench. On behalf of everyone on the Supreme Court, congratulations and best wishes to Justice Scaravelli. ”

Justice Nick Scaravelli holds a Commerce degree from Saint Mary's University and a law degree from Dalhousie University. He received his federal Queen's Counsel designation in 1990 and his Chartered Arbitrator designation from the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Canada in 1995.

Justice Scaravelli practiced law with several law firms in Halifax and New Glasgow before his appointment to the Bench. He also acted as a provincial Crown Prosecutor on a per diem basis in Pictou County, he handled special prosecutions throughout the province and served as a Small Claims Court Adjudicator in Pictou, Colchester, and Cumberland counties.

He was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia on Dec. 15, 2006. Throughout his judicial career, he heard matters in the Family Division and General Division in Halifax but sat primarily on the Supreme Court (General Division) in Pictou and Antigonish. He elected supernumerary status in December 2016.

Appreciating the important role that media plays in the justice system, Justice Scaravelli was the first judge in this province to allow live tweeting from the courtroom.

He has sat on numerous judicial committees over the years, including serving as the Nova Scotia representative on the Canadian Superior Court Judges Association.