Pamela M. Krause’s appointment as a judge to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice is being hailed in Barrie as both a boost to the community and to women.
Krause was one of eight women appointed by Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti on Friday and the only one named to the family court branch.
“We’re thrilled,” said Barrie lawyer Kathryn Whitehead who is president of the Simcoe County Law Association where Krause had been serving as communications director and head of the family law section. “It’s such a wonderful accomplishment.
“She’ll be a welcome addition (to the judiciary). Unfortunately, we’ll be losing a great director from our board.”
Krause, she said, tendered her resignation from the board Friday morning.
Krause has a sole practice in Barrie specializing in the area of family law, including child protection law and had been senior legal counsel and manager of legal services at the Children’s Aid Society of Simcoe County until 2010.
According to a biography provided by the federal justice department, Krause was a member of the personal rights panel for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer and a panel member for the Family Responsibility Office, and she participated in the family duty counsel panel. She was also a part-time lawyer member of the Consent and Capacity Board.
Krause also served as a member of the board of governors for Georgian College for six years.
“I am pleased to hear of the appointment of Pamela Krause to the Barrie bench,” Barrie family lawyer Cindy Scharff said in an email. “With her wealth of knowledge and experience in child protection and as Children’s Advocate, I anticipate we will see child-centred, common-sense decisions that benefit children and families alike.”
The other new judges are Susan Vella, Eugenia (Gina) Papageorgiou, Jana Steele, Catriona Verner and Audrey P. C. Ramsay of Toronto, Narissa Somji of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in Ottawa and Renu J. Mandhane, Chief Commissioner at the Ontario Human Rights Commission in Toronto.
Whitehead described the appointments as very diverse, reflecting a cross-section of Ontario communities.
“We always like to see Barrie put on the map; we also like to see the female representation. It was impressive that they appointed eight women today, the largest they’ve done in one day,” she said. “I think many practitioners in the area are going to be very pleased to hear her appointment and that they’ll be appearing before her in the future.”
Added Barrie lawyer Amanda Chapman: “Pam is a wonderful person and a knowledgeable and dedicated lawyer with extensive family law experience. She will no doubt be a great addition to our Central East SCJ bench.”
