(l-r) Justice Russell Brown being sworn-in by Associate Chief Justice John Rooke, at the Law Courts in Edmonton
The Honourable Mr. Justice Russell S. Brown, Associate Professor of Law, was sworn-in yesterday, at a ceremony at the Law Courts in Edmonton. Mr. Justice Brown was appointed a judge of Her Majesty's Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, in February 2013, to replace Mr. Justice K. Yamauchi, who was transferred to Calgary.
The ceremony was presided over by Associate Chief Justice John Rooke, members of The Alberta Court of Appeals, The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, and The Provincial Court of Alberta. Also in attendance were Justice Brown's family, friends, and colleagues from the Faculty of Law and the Alberta and B.C. bars. At the ceremony Mr. Justice Brown was lightly toasted and "roasted" by the members of the Judiciary and members of the bar. Greetings on behalf of the Law Society of Alberta were given by Rose Carter, Q.C.; and were followed by Cyril Gurevitch, Q.C., representing the President of the Canadian Bar Association's Alberta branch; and U of A Law's Professor Shannon O'Byrne representing the Edmonton Bar Association. In addition to the expressions of goodwill, the members of the court, and the bar, regaled the crowd with a few stories concerning Justice Brown.
(l-r) Associate Chief Justice John Rooke congratulating Justice Russell Brown
In his remarks Justice Brown, thanked Associate Chief Justice Rooke, members of the courts present, and members of the bar. Justice Brown thanked those who he had worked with in practice at the Faculty, in particular singling out Vice Dean John Law, Professor David Percy, Dean Philip Bryden, Professor Eran Kaplinsky, and Professor Moin Yahya. He also thanked his family for their support, giving special thanks to his wife, Heidi, and his two sons, 10-year old Gavin and 8-year old Cameron.
The Faculty would like to offer its warmest congratulations to former colleague Russ Brown on his appointment to the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench. The Law School's faculty, sessional instructors, staff, and students are absolutely delighted for him. He has been a wonderful teacher, scholar and colleague and the Faculty of Law has every confidence that he will make a competent contribution in his role.
(l-r) Justice Russell Brown and Professor Eran Kaplinsky
Russ Brown received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia in 1987 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Victoria in 1994. He received a Master of Laws in 2003 and a Doctor of Juridical Science in 2006, both from the University of Toronto. He was admitted to the Bar of British Columbia in 1995 and to the Bar of Alberta in 2008.
Russ has been an associate counsel with Miller Thomson LLP in Edmonton since 2008, as well as an associate professor, at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Law, since 2004. In 2011, Justice Brown was named Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the Faculty. Before becoming an academic, he was an associate with Carfare & Lawton in Victoria, British Columbia from 1996 to 2003 and with Davis & Company in Vancouver from 1995 to 1996. His main areas of practice were commercial law, medical negligence, personal injury, trusts and estates and competition law.
Russ was a member of the Law Society of Alberta, and of the Civil Practice Advisory Committee of the Law Society from 2010 to 2011. He has been a member of the Board of the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice, and chairman of the Management Board of the Health Law Institute at the U of A Faculty of Law. Throughout his academic career, Russ has been a presenter at numerous professional associations and is the author of numerous journal articles, and a book.
Additional Information:
U of A Faculty of Law Announcement of Professor Russell Brown's appointment to Alberta Court of Queen's Bench (February 2013)
February 2013 News Story - Professor Russell Brown appointed to Alberta Court of Queens Bench