The Honourable David Lametti, 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.
Owen Rees, Acting Assistant Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice Canada in Ottawa, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Ottawa. Justice Rees replaces Justice J.A. Parfett (Ottawa), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective January 1, 2023.
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"I wish Justice Rees every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Ontarians well as a member of the Superior Court of Justice."
-The Hon. David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Biography
Justice Owen Rees was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. He earned a B.A. from McGill University, an LL.B. from Queen's University, and a B.C.L. from Oxford University. He was admitted to the Ontario bar in 2003.
Justice Rees began his career as a law clerk to Justice Louis LeBel at the Supreme Court of Canada. He practised litigation with Stockwoods LLP in Toronto and with Conway Litigation in Ottawa. From 2012 to 2015, he served as Executive Legal Officer to then Chief Justice of Canada, the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin. In that role, he was the principal advisor to the Chief Justice and assisted her with the administration of the Supreme Court of Canada, the National Judicial Institute, and the Canadian Judicial Council. He joined the Department of Justice Canada as Senior General Counsel in 2018, and later became Deputy Assistant Deputy Attorney General and Acting Assistant Deputy Attorney General, National Litigation Sector.
Justice Rees co-founded and was an executive director of the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute. He has been the secretary to the board of the National Judicial Institute and he sat on Legal Aid Ontario's Group Applications and Test Cases Committee. Justice Rees taught law as a lecturer at Oxford University and as an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and at Queen's Law. He is a recipient of the Justice Thomas Cromwell Distinguished Public Service Award from Queen's Law and the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General.
Justice Rees enjoys family time with his spouse, Jocelyn, and their two wonderful school-aged children.
