Duties
The Chief Justice is ex officio chairman of the Canadian Judicial Council which is composed of all Chief Justices and Associate Chief Justices of superior courts in Canada. This body, established by the Judges Act, organizes seminars for federally appointed judges, coordinates the discussion of issues of concern to the judiciary, and conducts inquiries, either on public complaint or at the request of the federal Minister of Justice or a provincial Attorney General, into the conduct of any federally appointed judge.
The Letters Patent of 1947 respecting the office of Governor General provide that, should the Governor General die, become incapacitated or
be absent from the country for a period of more than one month, the Chief Justice or, if that office is vacant, the senior puisne Justice of the Supreme Court, would become the Administrator of Canada and exercise all the powers and duties of the Governor General.
The Chief Justice of Canada also chairs the committee which advises the Governor General on awards of membership in the Order of Canada.
Finally, the Chief Justice and the other Justices of the Court serve as deputies of the Governor General for the purpose of giving royal assent to bills passed by Parliament, signing official documents or receiving credentials of newly appointed High Commissioners and Ambassadors.
The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin
Beverley McLachlin was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on March 30, 1989. Prior to her appointment, she served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, on the Court of Appeal of British Columbia and on the County Court of Vancouver. She became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada on January 7, 2000.
 |
The Right Honourable
Beverly McLachlin |
Before joining the bench, McLachlin taught law at the University of British Columbia from 1974-81. She practised law with: Bull, Housser and Tupper of Vancouver (1972-75); Thomas, Herdy, Mitchell and Co. of Fort St. John, British Columbia (1971-72); and, Wood, Moir, Hyde, and Ross of Edmonton (1969-71).
McLachlin was called to the Bar of Alberta in 1969 and the Bar of British Columbia in 1971. She earned a law degree from the University of Alberta in 1968. And she has been awarded honorary law degrees by the University of British Columbia (1990), the University of Alberta (1990) and the University of Toronto (1995).
McLachlin was born in Pincher Creek, Alberta, on September 7, 1943. She is married to Frank McArdle and has a son, Angus.
Puisne Justices
- The Honourable Mr. Justice John Major
- The Honourable Mr. Justice Michel Bastarache
- The Honourable Mr. Justice William Binnie
- The Honourable Mr. Justice Louis Le Bel
- The Honourable Madam Justice Marie Deschamps
- The Honourable Mr. Justice Morris Fish
- The Honourable Madam Justice Rosalie Abella
- The Honourable Madam Justice Louise Charron
|
|
Click on the picture for free downloads
including this image. |
|
SOURCE: Supreme Court of Canada.
|
