Browse "Judges"

A. Allison Dysart, lawyer, politician, judge, premier of New Brunswick (b at Cocagne, NB 22 Mar 1880; d at Moncton, NB 8 Dec 1962). Educated at Ontario Agricultural Coll, St Joseph's University and Dalhousie, he practised law in Bouctouche.

Albert Charles Saunders, lawyer, politician, judge, premier of PEI (b at Summerside, PEI 12 Oct 1874; d there 18 Oct 1943). Saunders, having completed 4 terms as mayor of Summerside, became the Liberal Party leader in 1923, winning the 1927 election by supporting continuing liquor prohibition.

Andrew Rainsford Wetmore, jurist, politician, premier of NB 1867-70 (b at Fredericton 16 Aug 1820; d there 7 Mar 1892). Born into a distinguished Loyalist family, Wetmore's father, George Ludlow Wetmore, was the last New Brunswicker killed in a formal duel (20 Oct 1821).

In 1980 he was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, and on 3 July 1990 became Chief Justice of Canada.

The 64-year-old Lamer, whose 29 years on the bench make him the longest sitting federal judge in the country, tells the story during a 90-minute interview in his panelled chambers overlooking the ice-rimmed Ottawa River. It is the eve of the long-awaited and momentous hearings on File No.

Arthur Lewis Sifton, judge, politician, premier of Alberta (b at St Johns, Canada W 26 Oct 1858; d at Ottawa 21 Jan 1921). Firm, stoical and politically astute, Sifton was one of the most outstanding figures in the political life

Benjamin Russell, jurist, author (b at Dartmouth, NS 10 Jan 1849; d at Halifax 21 Sept 1935). An accomplished and versatile jurist, Russell quickly distinguished himself after being called to the NS Bar in 1872.

Bertha Wilson, née Wernham, lawyer, judge (b at Kirkcaldy, Scot 18 Sept 1923; d at Ottawa 28 April, 2007), first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Beverley McLachlin, PC, CC, Chief Justice of Canada 2000–17, lawyer and jurist (born 7 September 1943 in Pincher Creek, AB). Born into a rural Alberta farming family of modest means, McLachlin rose to become the first female chief justice of a Commonwealth high court and the longest serving chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. In June 2017, McLachlin announced she would retire from the bench on 15 December 2017, nine months before mandatory retirement at age 75.

Those may be welcome words to many of the high court's critics. Although the Supreme Court has escaped some of the opprobrium Canadians feel towards so many of their national institutions, there is still a swell of complaints that the court is tampering in areas best left to elected legislators.

This article was originally published in Maclean’s magazine on May 20, 2002. Partner content is not updated.

Bora Laskin, lawyer, judge (b at Fort William [Thunder Bay], Ont 5 Oct 1912; d at Ottawa 26 Mar 1984). After graduating from U of T (BA 1933, MA 1935), Laskin received an LLB from Osgoode Hall in 1936 and an LLM from Harvard in 1937.

Robert George Brian Dickson, chief justice of Canada (b at Yorkton, Sask 25 May 1916; d at Dunrobin, Ont 17 Oct 1998).

Christopher Alexander Hagerman, lawyer, politician, judge (b at Adolphustown, UC 28 Mar 1792; d at Toronto 14 May 1847). "Handsome Kit" grew up outside the charmed circle of pupils educated by John STRACHAN.

Christopher Dunkin, lawyer, politician, judge (b at Walworth, Eng 25 Sept 1812; d at Knowlton, Qué 6 Jan 1881). Admitted to the bar in 1846, he gained renown defending the legal rights of the seigneurs in 1854.

Claude Wagner, lawyer, judge, politician (b at Shawinigan, Qué 4 Apr 1925; d at Montréal 11 July 1979).

Daniel Woodley Prowse, judge, publicist, historian (b at Port de Grave, Nfld 12 Sept 1834; d at St John's 27 Jan 1914). Educated in St John's and Liverpool, England, Prowse was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1859.

David Cargill McDonald, lawyer, judge (b 23 May 1932 at Prince Albert, Sask; d 8 Apr 1996 at Edmonton). McDonald was one of Canada's outstanding jurists, combining great intellectual curiosity and devotion to principle with irrepressible energy.

Edmund Davie Fulton, lawyer, politician, judge (b at Kamloops, BC 10 Mar 1916). Son of an MP and grandson of a former BC premier, he distinguished himself as a Rhodes scholar, MP, Cabinet minister and judge.

Like so many people before and after them, Emmett Hall's parents moved to Western Canada seeking a better life for their young family.