Henri Richard appointed chief judge of the Court of Quebec

(Montreal) Minister of Justice Simon Jolin-Barrette appointed Henri Richard as head of the Court of Quebec on Wednesday afternoon. The main person concerned will take office on October 26.

The person occupying the position of chief judge of the Court of Quebec automatically occupies the position of president of the Conseil de la magistrature du Québec, it is also specified.

Mr. Richard was appointed judge of the Court of Quebec, in Montreal, in September 2006.

Judge Richard’s appointment comes after a nomination process where an advisory committee assessed all candidates before making a recommendation to the minister.

According to a press release, this committee was composed of M^e Yan Paquette, Deputy Minister of Justice, M^e Annick Murphy, retired director of criminal and penal prosecutions, Mr. Yvan Niquette, retired president of the Legal Services Commission and Mr.^e Catherine Cartier, general director of the Montérégie Crime Victim Assistance Center.

Mr. Richard succeeds Judge Lucie Rondeau, appointed to head the Court of Quebec in October 2016 and whose term expired.

M^me Rondeau and Minister Jolin-Barrette had disagreements on a few occasions, notably regarding the reform of the judiciary proposed by the chief justice.

A series of mediation sessions to reach an agreement last winter cost Quebec taxpayers $25,000, Le Devoir reported in April.