OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 1, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

Shauna L. MacDonald, K.C., Senior Counsel at Justice Canada – Canada Revenue Agency Legal Services Unit in Halifax, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Yarmouth. Justice MacDonald replaces Justice P.L. Muise (Yarmouth), who resigned effective April 21, 2026.

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"I wish Justice MacDonald every success as she takes on her new role. I am confident she will serve the people of Nova Scotia well as a member of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia."

— The Hon. Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Biography

Justice Shauna L. MacDonald, K.C., was born and raised in Nova Scotia. She completed a Bachelor of Arts with honours in French at Dalhousie University in 1991 before moving on to complete a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie Law School in 1994. She was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1995.

Justice MacDonald spent the majority of her legal career at the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service as Crown Counsel. In that role, she prosecuted a broad range of serious criminal offences in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Provincial Court. Most recently, she was employed as Senior Counsel with the Canada Revenue Agency Legal Services Unit at Justice Canada. She was a member of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court Liaison Committee and represented the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service on various national working groups. She was appointed King's Counsel in 2021. In 2023 she was awarded the RCMP Commissioner's Commendation for Outstanding Service to public safety.

Justice MacDonald was long committed to legal education. She frequently presented on criminal law matters to all members of the criminal justice community and co-taught Criminal Trial Practice, an advocacy course, at the Schulich School of Law. She mentored students and lawyers in the practice of criminal law and volunteered to be a judge and juror at various mock trials.

Quick facts

• Federal judicial appointments are made by the Governor General, acting on the advice of the federal Cabinet and recommendations from the Minister of Justice.
• The Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented.

SOURCE Department of Justice Canada