Two new provincial court judges appointed

Two women with a long history of serving in the justice system have been appointed provincial court judges.

Pamela J. Goulding, Q.C., will serve on the bench in St. John’s, while Laura A. Mennie, Q.C., will take a position in Stephenville.

Justice minister Felix Collins made the announcement today.

The appointments are effective immediately.

Goulding has been director of Public Prosecutions since 2006.

In that position, she has instituted an extensive rejuvenation of the Public Prosecutions division following the recommendations of the Lamer Report.

From 2001-2006, she served as Senior Crown Attorney in charge of the special prosecutions office  before serving several years as a Crown prosecutor.

She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in October 2008.

She earned her law degree in 1985 at Dalhousie Law School and was called to the Bar of Newfoundland and Labrador a year later.

Goulding, who grew up in Grand Falls-Windsor and lives in St. John’s, is wife to provincial court chief judge Mark Pike.

Mennie joined the Newfoundland and Labrador Legal Aid Commission in 1994, focusing on areas of family and criminal law litigation.

In 2007, she accepted a position as solicitor in the Family Litigation Unit and served as legal counsel for the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services in the Western region.

She completed her law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1992. The following year, she was called to the Bar of Newfoundland and Labrador.

She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in June 2011.

She is currently enrolled in the Master of Laws at Osgoode Hall Law School specializing in family law. She is expected to complete her degree in June.

“Ms. Goulding and Ms. Mennie have a wealth of legal expertise which has made them well-suited to the duties of a provincial court judge,” Collins said.

“They join the bench with a great deal of legal experience and knowledge. I welcome and congratulate them on their new positions.”