The new judges take up their posts this week
The Ontario Court of Justice bench has expanded with the addition of judges Brent Ian Davidson, Vanessa Elizabeth Decker, Mark Andrew Jacula, Andrew David Midwood, and Cindy Nadler this week.
All five take up their new roles on August 27. They have been assigned to Kenora-Fort Frances, London, Oshawa, Peterborough, and Hamilton by chief justice Sharon Nicklas.
Much of Davidson’s legal career was spent with the Manitoba Prosecution Service. After being called to the Manitoba bar in 1999, he joined the MPS as a Crown attorney.
He initially worked with the criminal organization unit before transitioning to youth prosecutions. He returned to the criminal organization unit in 2008 as a senior Crown attorney concentrating on organized crime involving firearms and illicit drugs.
Davidson was named the MPS’ general counsel in 2016. He has appeared before the Manitoba Provincial Court and the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench.
He sits in Kenora-Fort Frances.
Decker led intimate partner violence, Gladue and internet child exploitation matters as an assistant Crown attorney at the London Crown Attorney’s Office for 11 years before becoming its deputy Crown attorney in 2024. She has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.
She was called to the Ontario bar in 2013 after obtaining her degree from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School. She was a volunteer with the London Food Bank and the Child Abuse Prevention Council of London & Middlesex as well as a board member of the London Bridge Child Care Services.
Decker sits in London.
Jacula chaired the Durham Region Law Association over 2018-2024. He has been a defence counsel with Kelly Greenway Bruce.
He worked with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, conducting drug prosecutions. He shifted to private practice with Jacula Law in 2008, where he specialized in criminal law.
Jacula has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. He was called to the Ontario bar in 2005.
He sits in Oshawa.
Midwood started as a provincial prosecutor after his calling to the Ontario bar in 2010. He then became an assistant Crown attorney with the Durham Crown Attorney’s Office before transitioning to roles in Scarborough and Bracebridge.
Subsequently, he moved to Peterborough in 2013 and was named acting Crown attorney in 2021. He rejoined the Durham Crown Attorney’s Office as assistant Crown attorney in 2022.
Midwood has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. He has coached mock trial competitions involving local high schools.
He sits in Peterborough.
Nadler was a founding member of the Intensive Firearm Bail program at the Peel Crown Attorney’s Office. She was an assistant Crown attorney with the office, handling intimate partner violence matters.
She transitioned to the guns and gangs unit in 2023, handling firearms trafficking and wiretap prosecutions. Last year, she was appointed acting deputy Crown attorney in Peel.
Nadler was called to the Ontario bar in 2009 and has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. She has served as a judge of the Peel Justice Education Network’s annual mock trial tournament.
She sits in Hamilton.
