Sean Fraser: Karen Hulan Appointed Ontario Superior Court Judge

• Karen P. Hulan has been appointed as a judge to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Barrie.
• She previously served as a partner at Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers, specializing in personal injury and insurance law.
• Justice Hulan replaces Justice Susan Healey, who resigned from the Barrie court on April 3.
• Her extensive background includes serving as an elected bencher and committee chair at the Law Society of Ontario, and as an adjudicator at the Law Society Tribunal.
• Before her legal career, Justice Hulan was a high school teacher in Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario.

Her specialized expertise in personal injury and insurance law, coupled with her experience as a Law Society of Ontario bencher Hulan and tribunal adjudicator, suggests a judge with a comprehensive understanding of both the practical and ethical dimensions of legal practice, which may inform her approach to cases.

Canada's Justice Minister and Attorney General, Sean Fraser, has announced the significant judicial appointment of Karen P. Hulan to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Barrie. Ms. Hulan, who most recently served as a partner at Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers in London, will assume the judicial role previously held by Justice Susan Healey, following Justice Healey's resignation on April 3. This appointment marks a notable transition for the court in Barrie.

Minister Fraser conveyed his strong support for the new judge, stating his confidence that she would effectively serve the residents of Ontario in her capacity as a member of the Superior Court of Justice. The federal justice department's official announcement provided further details regarding the qualifications and extensive background of the newly appointed Karen Hulan Ontario Superior Court judge.

Throughout her legal career, Justice Hulan has exclusively dedicated her practice to the intricate fields of personal injury and insurance law. Prior to establishing her practice in London in 2006, she honed her legal skills in Toronto. Her commitment to the legal community is further evidenced by her past leadership roles, including serving as president and a board trustee for the Middlesex Law Association.

Beyond her private practice, Justice Hulan has made substantial contributions to the legal profession through her involvement with the Law Society of Ontario. She was elected as a bencher in 2023, demonstrating her peers' recognition of her expertise and dedication. Her roles at the Law Society included chairing the Tribunal Committee, co-chairing the Futures Committee, and participating in various other committees and working groups. Furthermore, at the Law Society Tribunal, she acted as an adjudicator within both the hearing and appellate divisions, and also served as a pre-hearing conference adjudicator and vice chair of the hearing division, showcasing her deep understanding of regulatory and disciplinary processes.

Justice Hulan's journey to the bench began with her admission to the Ontario bar in 2003. Before embarking on her legal career, she had a distinguished tenure as a high school teacher, imparting knowledge in both Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario. This diverse professional background, combining education with extensive legal practice and regulatory experience, positions her uniquely for her new judicial responsibilities.

Her academic foundations include an LLB earned from Queen's University in 2002. Preceding her legal studies, she obtained a bachelor's degree in education from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1995, and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Acadia University in 1993. Her specialized expertise in personal injury and insurance law, coupled with her experience as a Law Society of Ontario bencher Hulan and tribunal adjudicator, suggests a judge with a comprehensive understanding of both the practical and ethical dimensions of legal practice, which may inform her approach to cases.

The appointment of Karen Hulan Ontario Superior Court judge is part of a series of recent judicial appointments made by Minister Fraser across the province. For instance, on October 19, Minister Fraser announced the appointments of Julie Audet as regional senior judge for the East Region of the Ontario Superior Court, and Gabrielle M.S. Beaulieu as a Family Court judge in Ottawa.

Earlier, on October 1, Minister Fraser also confirmed the appointments of several other individuals to the Ontario judiciary. These included Frederick L. Myers, David E. Harris, Sandra Nishikawa, Christopher M. Arnone, Michael S. Dunn, Nicolas M. Rouleau, Shantona Chaudhury, and Bevin E. Shores. These Sean Fraser judicial appointments underscore ongoing efforts to staff the provincial courts with qualified legal professionals.

Lawyers practicing in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, particularly in Barrie or in personal injury and insurance law, should note the appointment of Justice Hulan, whose extensive background as a personal injury lawyer and Law Society Tribunal adjudicator may inform her approach to cases.

Source: Reporting based on legal industry announcements