News Release

Two New Justices Of The Peace Appointed To Ontario Court Of Justice

February 27, 2009

News

The province has appointed two new justices of the peace to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective March 4, 2009. 

Her Worship Ana Cristina Costa has worked as an adjudicator and member manager with the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada since 2001.  She also worked as a bilingual grants consultant with the Ontario Women’s Directorate from 2000 to 2001 and as a special projects and community liaison officer with the City of Toronto from 1998 to 2000.  As an active member of the community, she served as Director on the Board of the Catholic Children’s Aid Society from 1995 to 2001 and as Chairperson of the Child and Family Services Committee for a year.  She was a founding member of the Portuguese Canadian National Congress and a member of both the International Association of Refugee Law Judges and the Federation of Portuguese Canadian Business and Professionals.  Her Worship has been appointed as a full-time presiding bilingual justice of the peace.  Associate Chief Justice-Coordinator of Justices of the Peace John A. Payne has assigned Justice of the Peace Costa to Toronto Region.

Her Worship Deborah Anne Nelson has worked as a bail supervisor for the Toronto Bail program since 2006.  From 2003 to 2006 she was a site supervisor for the Dixon Hall Out of the Cold program, a non-profit initiative that provides emergency shelter to the homeless community throughout Toronto.   Her Worship also worked as a Drop-In Coordinator with the community health program Lamp and as a Youth and Child Worker with Earlscourt Child and Family Centre.  As an active member of the Aboriginal Community, she worked as a counsellor and outreach worker for the Native Men’s Resident Street Help program, and as a volunteer program coordinator in the recreation program for the Native Canadian Centre.  Her Worship has been appointed as a full-time presiding justice of the peace. Associate Chief Justice-Coordinator of Justices of the Peace John A. Payne has assigned Justice of the Peace Nelson to Toronto Region.

Justices of the Peace are judicial officers appointed pursuant to the Justices of the Peace Act.  These appointees have been interviewed by the Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee, established through the Access to Justice Act, 2006.

Quotes

"We are committed to improving access to justice for all Ontarians," said Attorney General Chris Bentley.  "I am confident that the rich work and life experiences of these two new justices of the peace will enable them to make significant contributions to our justice system."

Learn More

Read more about the Ontario Court of Justice

Read more about the appointment of justices of the peace to the Ontario Court of Justice

Contacts

Sheamus Murphy
Minister's Office, 416-326-1785

Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch, 416-326-2210

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