Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment in the province of New Brunswick

Ottawa, Ontario – 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.

Maurice C. Richard, K.C., Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Division of Family

Crown Services, at the Department of Justice and Public Safety for the Province of New Brunswick in Moncton, is appointed a Judge of the Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick, Family Division, in Moncton. Justice Richard replaces Justice I. Robichaud (Bathurst – Trial Division), who was elevated to the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick effective July 19, 2024. The Chief Justice has transferred Justice J.D. Roy (Moncton – Family Division) into this vacancy. The vacancy is therefore located in Moncton – Family Division.

Quote

“I wish Justice Richard every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve the people of New Brunswick well as a member of the Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick.”

—The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Biography

Justice Maurice C. Richard, K.C., was born in Fredericton. He attended Université de Moncton, where he obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1994, followed by his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1997. He was called to the New Brunswick Law Society in 1998.

Justice Richard is fluently bilingual. During his 26 years as a lawyer, Justice Richard practised in both official languages primarily in the field of Family Law. After having been in private practice for five years, he joined the New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission in 2004 as a lawyer. In 2009, he joined the New Brunswick Office of the Attorney General as Family Crown Counsel and in 2018, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Family Crown Services. He has appeared as counsel before all levels of the New Brunswick courts and before various administrative tribunals. Since 2013, he had been an adjunct professor at the Université de Moncton where he taught Law and Social Work. He was appointed King’s Counsel in 2024. 

Justice Richard had numerous years of involvement with the Law Society of New Brunswick as a guest instructor for the Bar Admission Program. In 2023, he was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal for his contributions to the Province of New Brunswick.

Justice Richard lives in Moncton with his wife and he has three children.