About J.

J. Michael MacDonald joined Stewart McKelvey as Counsel in 2019 following a distinguished career on the bench, including service as the 22nd Chief Justice of Nova Scotia and Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal from 2004 to 2019. He chaired the Mass Casualty Commission from 2020 to 2023, which produced 130 recommendations to improve public safety, and led the creation of Nova Scotia's Access to Justice Coordinating Committee in 2014. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2025 and received the Order of Nova Scotia in 2024. His current practice focuses on alternative dispute resolution, and he holds an LLB from Dalhousie University.

Practice areas

Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Education & credentials

Law school
Dalhousie University
Undergraduate
Mount Allison University, BA, 1976

Listing compiled from public sources in July 2026. Confirm J. Michael MacDonald’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Prince Edward Island directory ↗