November 29, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada
The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments 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.
The Honourable Glen L.C. Noel, a Judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John’s, is appointed a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador. Justice Noel replaces Justice W.H. Goodridge, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective October 31, 2024.
Dean A. Porter, Partner at Poole Althouse in Corner Brook, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, General Division, in St. John’s. Justice Porter replaces Justice R.P. Stack (St. John’s), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective November 26, 2024.
“I wish Justices Noel and Porter every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador well as members of the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
—The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Justice Glen L.C. Noel earned a B.A. from Memorial University in 1987 and an LL.B. from Dalhousie Law School in 1990. He was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 1991.
Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2019, Justice Noel had practised his entire career at Cox & Palmer and its predecessor firms in civil litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and appellate advocacy, including appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada. He was consistently recognized by his peers as a leading practitioner in insurance law, commercial insurance litigation, and personal injury law. He was appointed King’s Counsel in 2018.
Justice Noel has had extensive involvement in the legal profession and community and is a former president of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. In other community activities, he has been a member of the Hockey NL Constitutional Committee and the St. John’s Minor Hockey Association Executive and Honorary Solicitor to the Canadian Cancer Society (NL).
Justice Dean A. Porter grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador. He obtained his LL.B. from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia in 1998. He was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 1999.
Justice Porter started his law career at O’Dea Earl in St. John’s where he practiced as a litigation lawyer before returning to Corner Brook in 2001 where he joined the law firm of Poole Althouse until his judicial appointment.
Justice Porter has served on various not for profit boards and committees, and most recently as a sitting member of the local hospital foundation board. In 2022, he was elected by his colleagues to sit as a Bencher with the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Justice Porter and his wife Jennifer have 2 children Brooke and Jack.