James Chalmers McRuer (August 23, 1890 – October 6, 1985) was a Canadian lawyer, judge, commissioner and author in Ontario.

Biography

Born in Ayr,

Oxford County, Ontario Oxford County is a regional municipality in the Canadian province of Ontario. Highway 401 runs east–west through the centre of the county, creating an urban industrial corridor with more than half the county's population, spanning 25 km be ...

, he received his law education from the

Osgoode Hall Law School Osgoode Hall Law School, commonly shortened to Osgoode, is the law school of York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The law school is home to the Law Commission of Ontario, the Journal of Law and Social Policy, and the '' Osgoode Hall L ...

and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1913. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, he served in the Canadian Field Artillery as a lieutenant. After the war, from 1921 to 1925 he was an Assistant

Crown Attorney Crown attorneys or crown counsel (or, in Alberta and New Brunswick, crown prosecutors) are the prosecutors in the legal system of Canada. Crown attorneys represent the Crown and act as prosecutor in proceedings under the Criminal Code and vario ...

for

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

and

County of York Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

. From 1930 to 1935, he was a lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School. He ran unsuccessfully as the

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

candidate in

High Park High Park is a municipal park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. High Park is a mixed recreational and natural park, with sporting facilities, cultural facilities, educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds and a zoo. One-third of the park remains ...

in the 1935 federal election losing to Alexander James Anderson. Liberal candidates of Toronto and York constituencies prepare for election Oct

Liberal candidates of Toronto and York constituencies prepare for election Oct

McRuer was active in the

Canadian Bar Association The Canadian Bar Association (CBA), or Association du barreau canadien (ABC) in French, represents over 37,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers and law students from across Canada. History The Association's first Annual Meeting was he ...

, and served first as President of the

Ontario Bar Association The Ontario Bar Association is a bar association representing more than 16,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Ontario. It is also a branch of the Canadian Bar Association. Approximately two-thirds of all pract ...

from 1943 to 1944, and then as national President of the Canadian Bar Association from 1946 to 1947. In 1944, he was appointed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario and in 1945 was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Justice for the Province of Ontario. He resigned in 1964. As Chief Justice he served on various Royal Commissions and was Chairman of the Ontario Law Reform Commission from 1964 to 1966 and Vice-Chairman until 1977. He also served as President of the Canadian Bar Association while on the bench. Beginning in 1964, McRuer headed the Royal Commission Inquiry into Civil Rights (known as the McRuer commission). He wrote the books ''The Evolution of the Judicial Process'' (1957) and ''The Trial of Jesus'' (1978). In 1968, he was made an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the ...

"for his services in the profession of law and as a member of many Royal Commissions".

Works

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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:McRuer, James Chalmers 1890 births 1985 deaths Judges in Ontario Lawyers in Ontario Canadian Bar Association Presidents Candidates in the 1935 Canadian federal election Members of the United Church of Canada Officers of the Order of Canada Osgoode Hall Law School alumni Osgoode Hall Law School faculty People from Oxford County, Ontario Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery personnel Liberal Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons Canadian military personnel of World War I Canadian Militia officers Canadian Expeditionary Force officers