Canada: Three Khan MacDonald Dalmau Judicial Appointments Announced

• Minister of Justice Sean Fraser announced three judicial appointments to courts in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Quebec.
• Hafeez A. Khan, a sole practitioner specializing in child protection, was appointed to the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba (Family Division).
• Shauna L. MacDonald, K.C., a former Crown counsel and senior counsel at Justice Canada, was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.
• Alexandre Dalmau, a judge of the Court of Quebec with extensive prosecutorial experience, was appointed to the Superior Court of Quebec.
• These appointments bring diverse legal expertise, including family law, Indigenous law, and criminal prosecution, to the provincial benches.

Lawyers practicing in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench (Family Division), the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, and the Superior Court of Quebec should be aware of these new judicial appointments, as the new judges' backgrounds and experience may influence court dynamics and decision-making in their respective jurisdictions and practice areas.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Sean Fraser, has announced three significant judicial appointments, bringing experienced legal professionals to courts in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. These Khan MacDonald Dalmau judicial appointments reflect a range of expertise, encompassing family law, criminal prosecution, and broader legal practice, poised to influence the respective provincial judiciaries.

The newly appointed judges include Hafeez A. Khan, who will join the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba (Family Division); Shauna L. MacDonald, designated for the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia; and Alexandre Dalmau, who will serve on the Superior Court of Quebec. Each appointee brings a distinct professional history, from private practice and specialized legal services to extensive prosecutorial roles and prior judicial experience, ensuring a diverse set of perspectives are integrated into the Canadian judiciary.

The Hafeez A. Khan Manitoba appointment sees a Winnipeg-born sole practitioner join the Court of King's Bench Manitoba Family Division in his home city. Mr. Khan, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Ecology with first-class honours from the University of Manitoba before pursuing degrees in Common and Civil Law at McGill University, was called to the Manitoba Bar in 2003 and the New York Bar in 2004. His varied legal career has predominantly focused on child protection, a critical area for the Family Division.

Mr. Khan's extensive experience includes playing a key role in the implementation and application of Manitoba's first and only Indigenous child and family services law. He has appeared before all levels of court in Manitoba, as well as the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. His commitment to public service is further evidenced by his past role as chair of the Mental Health Review Board and his service as counsel in the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry. Mr. Khan also shares his knowledge through lecturing for the Law Society and the Canadian Bar Association, and regularly speaking at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law. He assumes the position previously held by Justice R.B. Doyle, who is set to retire on August 13, 2026.

In Nova Scotia, the Shauna L. MacDonald Nova Scotia appointment brings a seasoned legal professional to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia Yarmouth. Ms. MacDonald, who holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in French from Dalhousie University (1991) and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie Law School (1994), was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1995. Her career has largely been dedicated to public service, initially as Crown counsel with the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service, where she prosecuted serious criminal offences in the province's Supreme and Provincial courts. More recently, she served as senior counsel at Justice Canada – Canada Revenue Agency Legal Services Unit in Halifax. Her contributions have been recognized with her appointment as King's Counsel in 2021 and the RCMP Commissioner's Commendation for Outstanding Service to public safety in 2023. Ms. MacDonald also contributed to legal education by co-teaching Criminal Trial Practice at the Schulich School of Law and mentoring aspiring and practicing criminal lawyers. She replaces Justice P.L. Muise, who resigned effective April 21, 2026.

Meanwhile, the Alexandre Dalmau Quebec appointment sees a current judge of the Court of Quebec elevated to the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Montreal. Mr. Dalmau, who obtained his Bachelor of Laws from Université du Québec à Montréal and was called to the Barreau du Québec in 1996, began his career in private practice before transitioning to prosecution in 1997. He joined the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in 2000, focusing on complex cases involving organized crime and international drug trafficking. Returning to Quebec's prosecution service in 2012, he primarily handled homicide cases and became deputy director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions in 2015. His judicial career began in 2017 when the Quebec government appointed him to the Court of Québec's Criminal and Penal Division in Montréal. Mr. Dalmau has also shared his expertise as an adjunct professor at the University of Montréal, teaching trial advocacy techniques, and by instructing at prosecutor training schools for both provincial and federal services. He fills the vacancy created by Justice Audrey Boctor's elevation to the Court of Appeal of Quebec, effective September 14, 2026.

These Canada judicial appointments Sean Fraser announced introduce a wealth of experience to the respective courts, potentially influencing judicial dynamics and decision-making. Lawyers practicing in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench (Family Division), the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, and the Superior Court of Quebec should be aware of these new judicial appointments, as the new judges' backgrounds and experience may influence court dynamics and decision-making in their respective jurisdictions and practice areas.

The diverse professional paths of Mr. Khan, Ms. MacDonald, and Mr. Dalmau — spanning child protection, Indigenous law, serious criminal prosecution, and complex organized crime cases — will undoubtedly bring varied perspectives to the bench. Their collective experience in both trial and appellate courts, as well as their involvement in legal education and public service, underscores the depth of knowledge now contributing to the Canadian justice system in these three provinces.

Lawyers practicing in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench (Family Division), the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, and the Superior Court of Quebec should be aware of these new judicial appointments, as the new judges' backgrounds and experience may influence court dynamics and decision-making in their respective jurisdictions and practice areas.

Source: Original reporting via Canadian Lawyer Magazine