Four Windsor Law Alumni Elected Benchers

Four Windsor Law Alumni were elected Benchers of the Law Society of Upper Canada in voting concluded at the end of April, 2011. The four successful candidates were:  James Scarfone ’73, John Callaghan ’87, Judith Potter ’89, and Jacqueline Horvat ’01. Forty Benchers are elected – twenty from Toronto and twenty from outside Toronto. Fifteen Windsor Law grads ran for election.

James Scarfone, of the firm of Scarfone Hawkins in Hamilton, is a Certified Specialist Civil Litigation.  He is a Past President of the Hamilton Law Association (1991–1992) and a Director of the Advocates’ Society (2003–2006). He was a Founding Director and is a Past President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and was a Governor of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (2000–2006).  He has been heavily involved in the community as well, including the Theatre Aquarius (Director and Past-President, 1997-98) and the Hamilton-Wentworth Legal Aid Committee (Past-Chair). Congratulations James!

John Callaghan is a partner in Gowlings' Toronto office with a broad practice in civil litigation, commercial and regulatory offence work. John is a member of the Civil Rules Committee, having been appointed by the Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The committee is responsible for drafting and revising the Rules of Civil Procedure for the Province of Ontario. In addition to his law practice, John was appointed chairman of the Special Sub-Committee of the Civil Rules Committee by the Associate Chief Justice of Ontario for the implementation of the simplified rules that came into force in March of 1996. John is the co-author of Class Actions Law and Practice 2nd Edition, LexisNexis Canada, 2008. Congratulations John!

Judith Potter is a Sole Practitioner in London. She is a Tribunal member for the Consent & Capacity Board and a Deputy Judge Small Claims Court. Judith is a Past President, Southwest Region Women’s Law Association. Judith is a returning Bencher. She has served as follows: Co-Chair, Small Firm and Sole Practitioners Task Force and current Co-Chair Implementation Working Group; Co-Chair, Access To Justice Committee; Board of Directors, LibraryCo; Chair, Residential Schools Guidelines for Lawyers Working Group; Vice-Chair, Professional Regulation Committee; Vice-Chair, Equity and Aboriginal Affairs Issues Committee; Member, Professional Development & Competence Committee; Government Relations; Contingency Fees Working Group; Protocol Guidelines for members subject to complaints; Continuing Legal Education Working Group; Specialist Certification Working Group; Court House Study Task Force; Discipline Hearings Panel Member; and Law Society Appointee, Ontario Bar Association Council. Judith’s Community Involvement includes: London Children’s Aid Society Board; Merrymount Children’s Centre Board; Board of Governors, University of Western Ontario; London Abused Women’s Centre Board; Appeal Board, UI Commission; and London Memorial Boys & Girls Club Capital Campaign Committee. Congratulations Judith!

Jacqueline Horvat is a lawyer at Sutts Strosberg LLP in Windsor. She has a broad and varied corporate/commercial litigation practice and has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial disputes. She also has extensive experience in class actions. Jacqueline spent several years representing the former Attorney General of Ontario before The Ipperwash Inquiry, a commission of inquiry established to inquire and report on the events surrounding the death of Dudley George, who was shot and killed during a protest by First Nations representatives at Ipperwash Provincial Park. She has published "Class Action Fairness Act of 2005: A Canadian Perspective " The Canadian Class Action Review: Volume 2, No. 1, July 2005. Congratulations Jacqueline!