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Prime Minister Announces Ontario Judicial Appointments
February 21, 1996
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the following
appointments effective immediately:
The Honourable R. Roy McMurtry of Toronto is appointed
Chief Justice of Ontario. He replaces Chief Justice Charles Dubin
who resigned.
Chief Justice McMurtry has served as Chief Justice of the Ontario
Court (General Division) since 1994 and as Associate Chief Justice
of that Court from 1991 to 1994. He obtained an LL.B. from Osgoode
Hall and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1958. He then practised
general litigation with the firm of Vincent, McMurtry, Percival
& Brown from 1958 to 1975.
In 1975, Chief Justice McMurtry was elected to the Ontario Legislature
and served from 1975 to 1985 as Attorney General of Ontario and
from 1978 to 1982 as Solicitor General for Ontario. From 1985
to 1988, he served as High Commissioner for Canada to Britain.
Prior to his first appointment to the Bench in 1991, Chief Justice
McMurtry was practising with the firm Blaney, McMurtry, Stapells,
in Toronto.
The Honourable Patrick J. LeSage of Toronto is appointed
Chief Justice of the Ontario Court (General Division). He replaces
Chief Justice McMurtry.
Chief Justice LeSage has served as Associate Chief Justice of
the Ontario Court (General Division) since 1994. Previously, he
served as a justice of the Ontario Court (General Division) since
1990 and as Associate Chief Judge of the District Court of Ontario
from 1983 to 1990. Chief Justice LeSage graduated in law from
Osgoode Hall Law School in 1961 and was called to the Ontario
Bar in 1963.
Prior to his appointment to the Bench in 1975, Chief Justice LeSage
served as Assistant Crown Attorney in Toronto from 1963 to 1972,
when he became Director of Crown Attorneys for the Ministry of
the Attorney General of Ontario.
The Honourable Madam Justice Heather Smith of Toronto is
appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Ontario Court (General
Division). She replaces Associate Chief Justice Patrick LeSage.
Associate Chief Justice Smith has served as a justice of the Ontario
Court (General Division) since 1990 and as a judge for the County
and District Courts for the Counties and Districts of Ontario
(Brampton) from 1983 to 1990.
Associate Chief Justice Smith graduated in law from Queen's University
in 1971 and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1973. She then joined
the Department of Justice in Toronto as a Crown Prosecutor and
became Senior Counsel in 1981.
PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
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