Shauna L. MacDonald Appointed to Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Yarmouth
Minister of Justice Sean Fraser announced on October 1, 2026, the appointment of Shauna L. MacDonald, K.C., as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Yarmouth. A former Crown attorney and Senior Counsel at Justice Canada, she replaces Justice P.L. Muise, who resigned in April 2026.
On October 1, 2026, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Sean Fraser announced the appointment of Shauna L. MacDonald, K.C., as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Yarmouth. 
Justice MacDonald fills the vacancy left by Justice P.L. Muise, whose resignation took effect on April 21, 2026.
Prior to her elevation to the bench, MacDonald served as Senior Counsel at Justice Canada within the Canada Revenue Agency Legal Services Unit in Halifax. She spent the majority of her legal career working as Crown Counsel with the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service.
MacDonald earned a Bachelor of Arts with honours in French from Dalhousie University in 1991 and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie Law School in 1994. She was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1995. In 2021, she was appointed King’s Counsel, and in 2023, she received the RCMP Commissioner’s Commendation for Outstanding Service to public safety.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah Smith welcomed the appointment, citing MacDonald's impressive legal career and her strong focus on criminal law.
Following this appointment, one vacancy remains on the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, specifically within its family division.