21 Facts About Jerome Kennedy

Jerome Kennedy was born and raised in Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador and is the oldest of nine children of Patrick and Flora Jerome Kennedy.

Jerome Kennedy graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1981, with a bachelor of arts.

Jerome Kennedy then earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of New Brunswick Law School in 1984.

Jerome Kennedy was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1985, and began practising criminal law full-time in 1989.

Jerome Kennedy became a high profile and outspoken criminal defence lawyer in St John's.

Jerome Kennedy is well known for representing Randy Druken and Gregory Parsons during the Lamer Inquiry, which examined how the criminal justice system dealt with three discredited murder convictions.

On 1 November 2006, Jerome Kennedy was the Progressive Conservative Party candidate in a by-election in the district of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi, to replace outgoing New Democratic Party leader, Jack Harris.

Jerome Kennedy was unsuccessful in his bid for the seat, losing the election to Harris' successor as NDP leader, Lorraine Michael.

However Jerome Kennedy ran for the Progressive Conservatives in the 2007 general election, this time he was elected to represent the district of Carbonear-Harbour Grace in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.

Jerome Kennedy served in the position of Attorney General for a year, during this time he tried to secure federal funding for a new prison for the province as well he worked at streamlining the operations of the criminal justice system.

Jerome Kennedy was appointed Minister of Finance, President of Treasury Board, Minister Responsible for the Public Service Secretariat and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer on 31 October 2008, taking over for Tom Marshall who moved to Jerome Kennedy's old portfolio of Justice.

Jerome Kennedy became minister just as the economy was seeing a downturn, due to the late-200s recession.

Jerome Kennedy was tasked with negotiating contracts with public sector employees.

Jerome Kennedy told the nurses union that if they did not accept the 21.5 per cent wage increase over four years, given to other public sector employees, by 31 December 2008, that the government's offer may shrink due to the worsening economy.

Jerome Kennedy later told nurses that "if forced to" the government would legislate nurses back to work if they chose to strike.

In October 2009, Jerome Kennedy succeeded Paul Oram as the Minister of Health and Community Services, after Oram announced his retirement from provincial politics.

Jerome Kennedy had been thought of as a likely successor to former Premier Williams since entering politics in 2007.

When Williams resigned as premier and PC leader on 25 November 2010, Jerome Kennedy was thought to be the frontrunner in the leadership race to succeed him.

However, on 23 December 2010, Jerome Kennedy announced that he would not be seeking the leadership after discussing it with his family.

Jerome Kennedy endorsed Dunderdale, who was later acclaimed leader of the party.

In 2013, Jerome Kennedy joined personal injury law firm, Roebothan McKay Marshall, reviving his law practice.