Prime Minister Announces Ontario Judicial Appointments

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.

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