Nova Scotia Judge Loses Appeal Over COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Dispute

Judge Rickcola Brinton's complaint against former chief judge Pamela Williams was dismissed, with the court finding no breach of procedural fairness or judicial misconduct.

• Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Christa Brothers upheld the dismissal of Judge Rickcola Brinton's complaint against former provincial court chief judge Pamela Williams.
• Brinton alleged that Williams applied undue pressure for her to disclose her COVID-19 vaccination status and improperly contacted her physician during a medical leave inquiry.
• The court ruled that Williams's actions, including setting a vaccination policy and seeking medical leave information, were within her authority as chief judge and did not constitute judicial misconduct.
• Justice Brothers found no procedural unfairness in the handling of the complaint and concluded that Brinton lacked standing to challenge the decision substantively.
• A separate civil lawsuit filed by Brinton against Williams and the provincial attorney general over the vaccination policy was also struck down in October 2023.

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