Abel sworn in as judge

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/04/2018 (2852 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a Brandon courtroom packed full of family and friends, a new addition to the Court of Queen’s Bench Manitoba was sworn in on Tuesday.

Justice Scott Abel took his Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance and colleagues celebrated his significant accomplishments while gently ribbing him on his disdain for ties, choice of bright, patterned socks and love of comics.

“How can a person with such great accomplishments … have such a fixation and obsession with comic books?” Provincial Court Chief Judge Margaret Wiebe said with a laugh. “I’m told it’s likely you’re wearing a Batman T-Shirt right now under your robe.”

Going forward, Wiebe said Abel will have to take on similar characteristics to the superheroes he enjoys reading about.

“Superheroes, like judges, have serious responsibilities. They can deeply affect the lives of the people that they touch and they take their undertaking very seriously … (they) sometimes live a solitary existence as they adjust from a life of being a central figure to their more isolated job. Superheroes, like judges, have a strong sense of independence, which is necessary to do both types of jobs … and (they’re) on a mission for the pursuit of justice,” Wiebe said.

“More importantly, Superheroes, like judges, wear a cape.”

Abel received his LL.B. from the University of Manitoba in 1996 and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1997.

After beginning his legal career at the law firm of Sinclair and Associates in Winnipeg, Abel moved to Virden and practised with Sims and Co. in Birtle.

Joining Paterson Patterson Wyman and Abel in Brandon in 2002, Abel practised family law, criminal defence and civil litigation.

He is a former president of the Manitoba Bar Association and former vice-chair of the professional development committee of the Canadian Bar Association. Abel has also served on two committees of the Law Society of Manitoba — the access to justice stakeholder committee and the access to justice action committee. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Queen’s Bench, he was vice-president of the Western Manitoba Bar Association.

With experience working with numerous professional organizations alongside his practice, Abel focussed on local initiatives aimed at fostering access to justice.

“Justice Abel’s resume represents a life fully engaged in a wide variety of professional and personal pursuits,” said Court of Queen’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal. “He is — to put it simply — a man who is truly well deserving of this appointment.”

Replacing Justice John Menzies, who was elected to become a supernumerary judge last September, Abel hit the ground running — already taking a private oath in order to start sitting as a fully functioning member of the Court of Queen’s Bench, Joyal said.

“I’m looking forward to getting the work done, getting matters moving forward for the people of this region so that they can have some resolution to things,” Abel said. “The legal system is undergoing significant changes … I’m excited to be part of that change.”

» edebooy@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @erindebooy