AG Announces Queen's Counsel Appointments

Monday, February 02, 2009 04:48 PM

Victoria, B.C. - Attorney General Wally Oppal announced that 37 B.C. lawyers have been appointed Queen's counsel, including one from Vanderhoof and one that began his career there.

James Swales practices part time in the Vanderhoof area as a federal prosecutor. He retired from the provincial Crown in 2006. Swales served for 18 years as chief Crown counsel for Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James. He says the honour caught him by surprise.

"It's something that I hadn't unexpected and, you know, I'm very pleased. I'm very happy that someone, somewhere thinks highly enough of me to put my name in for this, and to be selected is wonderful, but I'm still somewhat surprised by the whole thing."

Hugh Michael McSheffrey began his career as a Crown counsel in Vanderhoof in 1983. He continued his prosecutorial work in Penticton in 1987, before moving to the Nelson Crown counsel office in 1989.

The Queen's counsel designation is an honour given to members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and contribution.

Successful candidates demonstrate professional integrity and good character and must be members of the British Columbia bar for at least five years.

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