New Judges Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
The Voice of Canada News
Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario, is pleased to announce the appointment of five new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective August 27, 2026.
Justice Brent Ian Davidson was called to the Manitoba bar in 1999. He began his legal career with the Manitoba Prosecution Service (MPS) as a Crown attorney, first with the Criminal Organization Unit and then with Youth Prosecutions. In 2008, he rejoined the Criminal Organization Unit as a senior Crown attorney, focusing on organized crime involving firearms and illicit drugs. In 2016, Justice Davidson became general counsel with the MPS. He has appeared before the Manitoba Provincial Court and the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench.
Justice Davidson was vice president of the St. James Assiniboia Minor Baseball Association board and held several coaching positions, including assistant football coach at Collège Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, head coach of the St. James Rods Football Club and head baseball coach at the Heritage Victoria Community Centre.
Justice Davidson graduated from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law.
Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas has assigned Justice Davidson to Kenora-Fort Frances.
Justice Vanessa Elizabeth Decker was called to the Ontario bar in 2013. She spent 11 years as an assistant Crown attorney with the London Crown Attorney’s Office, where she was the lead on intimate partner violence, Gladue and internet child exploitation matters. In 2024, Justice Decker became the deputy Crown attorney in the same office. She has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.
Justice Decker has volunteered with the London Food Bank and the Child Abuse Prevention Council of London & Middlesex. She was also on the board of directors of London Bridge Child Care Services, a non-profit organization that provides childcare and educational programs in London, as well as Huron and Lambton counties.
Justice Decker graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.
Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas has assigned Justice Decker to London.
Justice Mark Andrew Jacula was called to the Ontario bar in 2005. He began his legal career as defence counsel with Kelly Greenway Bruce and conducted drug prosecutions on behalf of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. In 2008, Justice Jacula started practicing criminal law at Jacula Law. He has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. From 2018 to 2024, Justice Jacula was the chair of the Durham Region Law Association.
Justice Jacula coaches youth soccer and volunteers as a career coach with Ontario Career Lab, an educational organization that connects Grade 9 and 10 students with industry professionals. He has also served as a trustee of the Durham District School Board.
Justice Jacula graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.
Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas has assigned Justice Jacula to Oshawa.
Justice Andrew David Midwood was called to the Ontario bar in 2010. He began his legal career as a provincial prosecutor before becoming an assistant Crown attorney, first with the Durham Crown Attorney’s Office and then in Scarborough and Bracebridge. In 2013, he continued his career in Peterborough, where he became the acting Crown attorney in 2021. He returned to Durham in 2022 as an assistant Crown attorney. Justice Midwood has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.
Justice Midwood volunteers with Back Door Mission for the Relief of Poverty, an organization in Oshawa that helps unhoused people achieve long-term stability. He has also volunteered with CanSkate as a chaperone for a children’s skating team, and with Feed the Need in Durham, an organization that operates an emergency food distribution hub. In addition, Justice Midwood has coached local high school mock trial competitions.
Justice Midwood graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.
Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas has assigned Justice Midwood to Peterborough.
Justice Cindy Nadler was called to the Ontario bar in 2009. She began her legal career as an assistant Crown attorney with the Peel Crown Attorney’s Office, where she was an Intimate Partner Violence Crown and a founding member of the Intensive Firearm Bail program. In 2023, Justice Nadler joined the Guns and Gangs Unit, working on firearms trafficking and wiretap prosecutions. In 2025, she became the acting deputy Crown attorney in Peel. Justice Nadler has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.
Justice Nadler has volunteered as a mentor with Youth Employment Services, an organization that helps youth with job training and placement, and as a judge with the Peel Justice Education Network’s annual mock trial tournament.
Justice Nadler graduated from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law.
Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas has assigned Justice Nadler to Hamilton.
