Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Born Joseph Antonio Charles Lamer in Montreal, he served in the Royal Canadian Artillery from 1950 to 1954 and the Canadian Intelligence Corps from 1954 to 1960. He was educated at College de Saint-Laurent and University of Montreal. After his call to the Bar of Quebec in 1957 he had a prominent criminal law practice in Montreal. He was later a professor at the University of Montreal Law School, a founder of the Defence Attorneys' Association of Quebec and a board member of the Canadian Human Rights Foundation. He was appointed to the Quebec Court of Appeal in 1978 and to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1980. Serving as the 16th Chief Justice of Canada from 1990 until retirement in 1999, he was considered a strong civil libertarian unafraid to strike down existing legislation. Under his tenure the court was particularly noted for judgments leading to reform of aboriginal property rights and protection of the rights of the accused. Among the many honors received, he was Member of the Privy Council of Canada, Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John, Honorary Colonel of the Governor General's Foot Guards and Companion of the Order of Canada. After retirement he continued public service as president of the Historical Council, independent commissioner of the Communications Security Establishment (the national cryptologic agency), held several honorary positions with military regiments and wrote major inquiry reports on military justice and wrongful murder convictions. Chief Justice Lamer died in Ottawa at age 74 from chronic heart disease.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Born Joseph Antonio Charles Lamer in Montreal, he served in the Royal Canadian Artillery from 1950 to 1954 and the Canadian Intelligence Corps from 1954 to 1960. He was educated at College de Saint-Laurent and University of Montreal. After his call to the Bar of Quebec in 1957 he had a prominent criminal law practice in Montreal. He was later a professor at the University of Montreal Law School, a founder of the Defence Attorneys' Association of Quebec and a board member of the Canadian Human Rights Foundation. He was appointed to the Quebec Court of Appeal in 1978 and to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1980. Serving as the 16th Chief Justice of Canada from 1990 until retirement in 1999, he was considered a strong civil libertarian unafraid to strike down existing legislation. Under his tenure the court was particularly noted for judgments leading to reform of aboriginal property rights and protection of the rights of the accused. Among the many honors received, he was Member of the Privy Council of Canada, Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John, Honorary Colonel of the Governor General's Foot Guards and Companion of the Order of Canada. After retirement he continued public service as president of the Historical Council, independent commissioner of the Communications Security Establishment (the national cryptologic agency), held several honorary positions with military regiments and wrote major inquiry reports on military justice and wrongful murder convictions. Chief Justice Lamer died in Ottawa at age 74 from chronic heart disease.
Bio by: Milou
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