Major shakeup announced at provincial court

There's been anunexpected and somewhat uniqueshakeup at the highest levels of the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial courtwith Pamela Goulding named chief judge, replacing her husbandMark Pike.

• Judges seal oath with a kiss

Justice Minister Darin King announced Goulding's appointment, andPike's resignation, on Monday.

Gouldingwas appointed to the bench in 2012 in a ceremony that was conducted by her husband.

She was called to the bar in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1986.

She is the first-ever female chief judge in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"The considerable knowledge and experience she gained first as a prosecutor and then as a judge will serve her well in her new role," King stated in a news release.

King also commended Pike for the six years he served as chief judge, saying "much positive work was undertaken at provincial court."

When contacted by email, Pike said he had no comment atthis time.

His resignation as chief judgeis effective immediately, though hewill continue to serve as a provincial court judge.

Chief Judge Goulding, meanwhile,was born in Grand Falls-Windsor, and received her law degree from Dalhousie University in 1985.

She has previously served as senior Crown attorney in charge of the special prosecutions office, which is responsible forprosecuting complex and sensitive criminal cases, extradition matters and appeals.

She also argued two murder appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada.

In 2006, she was appointed director of public prosecutions in 2006, andinstituted an extensive rejuvenation of the public prosecutions division following the recommendations of the Lamer Report.

She was appointed Queen's Counsel in October 2008.