Former N.S. PC campaign co-chair appointed provincial court judge

Nova Scotia’s opposition parties are raising concerns around judicial independence over the appointment of a former PC party campaign co-chair as a provincial court judge.

On Friday, the province announced it had appointed lawyers Cameron MacKeen, Christa MacKinnon and Jennifer MacLellan, KC (King’s counsel) as judges of the Nova Scotia provincial court.

In a release, the government said MacKeen has been a lawyer in Halifax since 2003, with a private practice until 2013 when he joined Nova Scotia Legal Aid. Since 2022, MacKeen has been a managing lawyer for Legal Aid’s Halifax South office.

The release did not make note of MacKeen’s political ties, including serving as a campaign co-chair for the Progressive Conservatives during the 2021 and 2024 election campaigns. MacKeen was also named to Premier Tim Houston’s transition team after the party won the most recent election.

Liberal leader Iain Rankin was the first to react to the news with concern around judicial impartiality.

“While we respect the qualifications of individuals, placing someone so closely tied to partisan politics in such a critical role undermines public confidence in the courts,” Rankin said in a statement. “Nova Scotians deserve a judiciary that is fair, independent, and free from political influence.”

The premier’s office responded to the statement from Rankin on Friday afternoon, accusing him of a “shameful drive-by smear of a respected advocate.”

“It is disappointing that Mr. Rankin is attacking legal aid lawyers and the Independent Advisory Committee on Provincial Judicial Appointments,” read a statement from the premier’s press secretary, Catherine Klimek. “Throughout Mr. MacKeen’s career, he has served the underprivileged population and played a critical role in the justice system. His perspective and experiences will serve our province well in his new role.”

The official opposition New Democrats, also took issue with the appointment of MacKeen.

“This government’s decision to appoint a former PC campaign co-chair and long-time political organizer to the Provincial Court raises questions about the Premier’s priorities and judicial independence,” reads a statement from NDP justice critic Suzy Hansen. “Even the perception of politically motivated appointments could put the independence of the judiciary at risk.”

The justice department says judges are selected by the government from a list of candidates recommended by an independent Advisory Committee on Provincial Judicial Appointments.