The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Justice and Public Safety today announced the appointment of Michael King as Provincial Court judge for Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Mr. King was the previous director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT-NL).
Minister Davis has also announced the appointment Stephen Ring as interim director of SIRT-NL. A competition process for the permanent director position for SIRT-NL will begin in the coming weeks.
Both appointments are effective immediately.
Biographies of both appointees can be found in the backgrounder below.
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“Congratulations to Judge Michael King to his appointment to the Bench in Happy Valley Goose-Bay. I thank him for his important work and dedication to his previous role as the director of SIRT-NL. I also congratulate Stephen Ring on his appointment as interim Director of SIRT-NL. Both Mr. King and Mr. Ring demonstrate high levels of professionalism, legal insight and determination, and their appointments will be of great benefit to the province.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Justice and Public Safety
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BACKGROUNDER
Biographies of Newly Appointed Provincial Court Judge and Interim Director of SIRT-NL
Michael King
In September 2019, Michael King was appointed for a five-year term as the first civilian Director of SIRT-NL. He was reappointed to that position for an additional term of five years effective September 30, 2024. Mr. King graduated from University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Laws in 2003. Following his articles of law with the Crown Attorney’s Office, he was admitted to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 2004. Prior to his appointment as Director, SIRT-NL, Mr. King worked as legal counsel in private practice, with experience in both civil and criminal matters and appearances in all levels of court in Newfoundland and Labrador. He completed his undergraduate degree in 2000, receiving a Bachelor of Arts (English) from Memorial University.
Mr. King is currently Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Civilian Oversight in Law Enforcement, having served as a Board member for that organization since 2022. He also previously served as Bar Admission Course Instructor for the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and as Chair of the Criminal Section for the Canadian Bar Association, NL Branch.
Stephen Ring
Stephen Ring has been a solicitor with the Department of Justice and Public Safety since 2001. He has spent over half of his career giving legal advice to corrections and community services.
Other roles within the Department of Justice and Safety included Director of the Access to Information and Protection Office and Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission. Most recently, Mr. Ring held the position of Director of the Civil Division and was responsible for giving legal advice to the Department of Finance and Treasury Board Secretariat.
Mr. Ring has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Memorial University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta.
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