They are in for a surprise.
They’ve headed to New Brunswick for the annual meeting of provincial courts judges of Newfoundland and Labrador, called a few months ago by Chief Judge Mark Pike to coincide with the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges. As recently as 10 days ago, Pike was still finalising the agenda.
Surprise: now Mark won’t be there.
Pike quit very suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday. And just as quickly and just as surprisingly, Attorney General Felix Collins announced Pike’s replacement. It’s Pike’s wife, Pamela Goulding, a former head of the Crown prosecution service who is the third most junior judge on the provincial court bench.
The judges won’t be surprised by that appointment.
It’s par for the course these days.
