SASKATCHEWAN JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, June 13, 2014 – The Honourable Peter MacKay, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Central Nova, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment:

The Honourable Donald H. Layh, a lawyer with Layh & Associates in Langenburg, is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench (Yorkton) to replace Madam Justice J.L.G. Pritchard, who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of June 2, 2013.

Mr. Justice Layh received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan in 1986. He was admitted to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1987, the Bar of Manitoba in 1994 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2005.

Mr. Justice Layh practised with Robertson Stromberg in Saskatoon until 1994 before establishing Layh & Associates in Langenburg and, later, an office in Russell, Manitoba. He developed a broad general practice providing specialized advice in the area of debtor-creditor and personal property law, as well as bankruptcy and insolvency law.

Mr. Justice Layh has served as the Chairperson of the Saskatchewan Law Reform Commission since 2010. He has also served as an instructor of the Bar Admission Course and as an associate professor at the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan. He is the author of numerous legal articles and of two textbooks, including The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act: History, Commentary and Case Law and The Enforcement of Money Judgements Act: Analysis and Commentary.

Mr. Justice Layh has been active in various community organizations. He is the founder of the Family and Friends Community Foundation Inc. and has served as chairperson and board member of the Germania Mutual Insurance Company since 1999.

This appointment is effectively immediately.

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