Appointment makes an all-women court system

Stephenville - With the appointment of Judge Jacqueline Jenkins to the bench, Stephenville Provincial Court is now an all-women court.

During a sitting to welcome Stephenville's newest judge, Chief Judge Milton R. Reid made that observation, noting Jenkins' appointment marks a milestone for Provincial Court in that, there is now six female judges ...the most they've ever had at one time in the provincial court system.

"Stephenville stands out as having had two women judges on separate occasions, which was also a first," Reid said. "While males still outnumber women as judges, on the staff side of things we have only one male employee across the entire court roster, which consists of more than 50 employees."

Reid said Jenkins, a native of Grand Falls-Windsor, has dedicated her talents almost entirely to serving the province in central Newfoundland.

She is the youngest of eight children and is married to Rod French and have one son, Benjamin,11.

Jenkins said her new position is a challenge and an honour. She said in the career as a lawyer she did a great deal of circuit work, which took her to several areas, but it was in Grand Falls-Windsor that she established wonderful relationships and spent the bulk of her time there.

"I'm now looking forward to establishing myself here in Stephenville," Jenkins said from the bench. "I'll be working hard to deal with the backlog of cases. It's a pleasure to be here and hopefully, I'll stay on for the foreseeable future."

Backlog not insurmountable
Later during a meet and greet, she said the backlog of cases is nothing that is insurmountable. Jenkins noted there have been judges coming and going since the late Judge Michael Monaghan, who she is replacing, was no longer able to work.

"I won't be overwhelmed by the cases as I work very diligently at what I do," she said. "I figure by the New Year we'll be right back on track. We'll get it moving pretty quick."

When asked if there was more crime in the area thank in other areas of the province, Jenkins said she's been told Stephenville is a fairly busy court, but it's nothing that alarms her and is on par with Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander.

She said Stephenville Provincial Court covers a vast area when you consider its coverage stretches to Port aux Basques.

But what are her impressions of the town itself?

"I'm looking forward to getting a chance to see everything in the town and the area," she said. "I like the idea of having the ocean nearby and look forward to becoming part of the community. I've always been involved in volunteer work and will likely get involved in it here but that's after our family gets settled into the community."

Strong committment
Reid said Jenkins has always appeared conscientious, well prepared, levelheaded and appropriately empathetic to her clients and the public. He commended Jenkins for always demonstrating a commitment to the practice of law in accordance with the rule of law and in keeping with high professional standards.

"And now this capable barrister has opted to change her status from advocate to judge and in our society the call to a judgeship is one of the highest demands that can be made of a person," Reid said. I'm sure she has all of the essential qualities and I'm confident she will serve her constituency of western and southwestern Newfoundland very well."