The Honourable John Hogan, KC, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, is pleased to announce the appointment of Judge Jennifer Mercer as Associate Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. Associate Chief Judge Mercer replaces former Associate Chief Judge Michael A. Madden, whose seven-year term has concluded.
Associate Chief Judge Mercer graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1997 and was called to the Bar in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1998. She previously practiced in Labrador, both in private practice and as a Crown Attorney. Associate Chief Judge Mercer then continued her career in the roles of Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and Director of Public Prosecutions. She was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice and Public Safety in October 2018, and served in that role until July 2021 when she was appointed as a Judge of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
A full biography of Associate Chief Judge Mercer can be found in the backgrounder below.
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“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Judge Jennifer Mercer as Associate Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. The role of Associate Chief Judge brings with it important responsibilities. I am confident Associate Chief Judge Mercer’s qualifications and experience make her well-suited to her new position as she fulfills her duties in ensuring Newfoundland and Labrador has an effective and efficient Provincial Court.”
Honourable John Hogan, KC
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General
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BACKGROUNDER
Biography of Jennifer Mercer
Associate Chief Judge Jennifer L. Mercer is originally from Grand Falls-Windsor. She attended Université Ste-Anne, where she completed intensive French Immersion and her Bachelier ès Arts (français). Her studies continued at Dalhousie Law School where she graduated in 1997. Associate Chief Judge Mercer articled with the law firm Miller & Hearn in Labrador City and was admitted to the Bar in 1998, winning both the Hunt and Penny Awards (highest overall marks and highest marks in family law). Associate Chief Judge Mercer practiced with Miller & Hearn until 2007 when she joined the Department of Justice and Public Safety as a Crown Attorney, subsequently becoming Senior Crown Attorney (Labrador) in 2015.
Associate Chief Judge Mercer continued her career with the Department of Justice and Public Safety in the roles of Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and Director of Public Prosecutions. Associate Chief Judge Mercer was also appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 2017. She was appointed the Deputy Minister of Justice and Public Safety in October 2018 and served in that role until July 2021 when she was appointed as a Judge of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Associate Chief Judge Mercer has also volunteered with several community organizations, including the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs, Work out World, the Rotary Club, and the Polaris Figure Skating Club Board of Directors.