The Provincial Court of Nova Scotia is welcoming two new judges.

Earlier today, Nova Scotia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice announced the appointments of Jamie Van Wart and Ian Hutchison.

Judge Van Wart comes to the Bench as an experienced Crown Attorney with the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service, prosecuting cases in Youth Justice Court. Judge Hutchison has a reputation as a well-respected criminal defence lawyer. Both live in the Halifax area.

“I’m very pleased to welcome two new judges to the Provincial Court,” said The Hon. Perry Borden, Chief Judge of the Provincial Court. “I’ve known both individuals for a long time and worked alongside each of them during my time as a lawyer. I know firsthand what strong assets they will be for our Court.”

The Hon. Judge Jamie Van Wart

Judge Van Wart was called to the bars of British Columbia in 2002, Yukon in 2003 and Nova Scotia in 2009. With 20 years of criminal law experience, he served as a youth justice prosecutor with the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service and regularly appeared before all levels of court in Nova Scotia. Judge Van Wart was also commission counsel for the Mass Casualty Commission and taught youth criminal justice part-time at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law.

The Hon. Judge Ian Hutchison

Judge Hutchison graduated from the University of Glamorgan in Wales in 1999 and was admitted to practise as a lawyer in England and Wales in 2001. He received his national certificate of accreditation in 2007 and was admitted to the Nova Scotia bar that year. He has owned a law firm and practised extensively in the area of criminal defence. His experience includes representing survivors of residential schools and defending Nova Scotians accused of serious crimes. He has also appeared before all levels of Nova Scotia courts.

Before today, the Provincial Court was at full complement with 29 full-time judges. One of today’s appointments will address the upcoming retirement of a full-time Provincial Court judge at the end of September, which would have created a vacancy, while the other will help support operations in the new bail court, once it is established.

As of Oct. 1, 2024, there will be 30 full-time judges on the Provincial Court – 18 female and 12 male judges. There are also 14 per diem judges who sit part-time.