Source: Government of Canada News
September 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada
The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, 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.
Benoit Duchesne, an Associate Judge of the Federal Court in Ottawa, is appointed a Judge of the Federal Court. Justice Duchesne replaces Justice P. Pamel who was elevated to the Federal Court of Appeal effective September 20, 2024.
Quote
“I wish Justice Duchesne every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Canadians well as a member of the Federal Court.”
—The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biography
Justice Benoit Duchesne was born in Montreal and raised in Ottawa. He obtained a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree (minors in Economics and Music) in 1993, a Licentiate in Civil Law (LL.L.) in 1996, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree in 2000, all from the University of Ottawa. He was admitted to the Barreau du Québec in 1998 and to the Law Society of Ontario in 2001.
Justice Duchesne is fluently bilingual. He was appointed Associate Judge of the Federal Court in 2022. He presided over case management conferences, motions, mediations, pre-trial and trial management conferences, and trials in proceedings across the Court’s jurisdiction. Prior to his appointment as an Associate Judge, he was a partner with Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP in Ottawa. Justice Duchesne enjoyed a broad bilingual and bijural practice primarily in civil, corporate and commercial, administrative, and municipal litigation before various tribunals and all Ontario, Quebec, and Federal courts including the Supreme Court of Canada. He was named to the Best Lawyers in Canada list by his peers and was a Lexpert ranked lawyer in recognition for his expertise in corporate and commercial litigation. He was also a part-time professor of civil procedure at the University of Ottawa from 2012 to 2022.
Justice Duchesne is grateful for the love and support of his spouse Jennifer and of his daughter Alexandra.