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A message from the
Chief Justice of New Brunswick

On January 8, 2018, the Chief Justice of New Brunswick, the Honourable J. Ernest Drapeau, advised the Federal Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of New Brunswick that he will cease holding that office on April 2, 2018, at which time he will elect to hold office as a supernumerary judge. His letter reads as follows:

Madame Minister of Justice for Canada and
Mr. Attorney General of New Brunswick:

      As your records will show, I was appointed Chief Justice of New Brunswick on March 26, 2003. It has been an honour, a privilege and a challenge to hold that office and to perform the duties associated with it, at all times in service of my fellow citizens. The
time has come to move on.   

      This will serve as notice under s. 32(1) and s. 29(1) of the Judges Act of my election to cease to perform the duties of Chief Justice and to hold office as a supernumerary judge of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal, said notice to be effective on April 2, 2018, as provided for under s. 33(1).

Yours respectfully,

J. Ernest Drapeau
Chief Justice of New Brunswick

The process to identify a successor has been launched, the Chief Justice having advised he would be prepared to leave office at any time convenient.

Hierarchy of New Brunswick Courts