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Richard Wagner (judge)

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The Right Honourable
Richard Wagner
PC
The Right Honourable Richard Wagner smiling.
Wagner in 2012
18thChief Justice of Canada
Assumed office
December 18, 2017
Nominated byJustin Trudeau
Appointed byJulie Payette
Preceded byBeverley McLachlin
Puisne Justiceof theSupreme Court of Canada
In office
October 5, 2012 – December 18, 2017
Nominated byStephen Harper
Appointed byDavid Johnston
Preceded byMarie Deschamps
Succeeded bySheilah Martin
Puisne Justiceof theQuebec Court of Appeal
In office
February 3, 2011 – October 5, 2012
Nominated byStephen Harper
Appointed byDavid Johnston
Preceded byLise Côté
Succeeded byDominique Bélanger
Personal details
Born(1957-04-02)April 2, 1957(age 67)
Montreal,Quebec, Canada
SpouseCatherine Mandeville
Children2[1]
Parent
Alma materCollège Jean-de-Brébeuf(DEC)
University of Ottawa(BSocSc,LLL)

Richard WagnerPC(French pronunciation:[vɑɡnɛːʁ]vahg-NAIR;[2]born April 2, 1957) is a Canadian jurist serving as the 18th and currentChief Justice of Canadasince 2017. He previously served as apuisne justiceof theQuebec Court of Appeal(2011–2012) and of theSupreme Court of Canada(2012–2017). For several months in 2021, followingJulie Payette's resignation as Canada'sgovernor general,Wagner was theadministrator of the government of Canadaas well as chief justice.

Early life

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Wagner was born inMontreal,Quebec, to aFrench CanadianCatholic family as the son of Gisèle (née Normandeau) andClaude Wagner,a former member of Parliament and senator.[3]He studied at theCollège Jean-de-Brébeufin Montreal before receiving a bachelor of social science degree inpolitical sciencefrom theUniversity of Ottawain 1978. He received his Licentiate in Law (LL.L.) – a Quebec Civil Law equivalent of the Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) – from the same institution in 1979.[3]

Career

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Private practice and early judicial career

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In 1980, Wagner was called to theQuebec Bar,and began practice at the Montreal law firm Lavery, de Billy (formerly Lavery, O'Brien and Lavery, Johnston, Clark, Carrière, Mason & Associés). His practice centred on real estate, commercial litigation and professional liability insurance.[3]

He was appointed to theSuperior Court of Quebecfor the district of Montreal on September 24, 2004. On February 3, 2011, he was elevated to theCourt of Appeal of Quebec.

Supreme Court of Canada

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On October 2, 2012, Prime MinisterStephen Harpernominated him to theSupreme Court of Canadato replace retiring JusticeMarie Deschamps.[4]His appointment was confirmed on October 5, 2012.[5]

On December 3, 2012, a ceremony was held for Wagner's appointment in the Supreme Court of Canada courtroom. The event was attended by outgoing chief justiceBeverley McLachlin,the federalminister of justice and attorney general,Rob Nicholson,and the Quebec deputy minister of justice, Nathalie G. Drouin.[6]

On December 12, 2017, Prime MinisterJustin Trudeauappointed Wagner as Beverly McLachlin's successor as chief justice of Canada.[7][8]

Administrator of Canada

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On January 23, 2021, Wagner became Administrator of the Government of Canada following Governor GeneralJulie Payette's resignation in response to aworkplace harassment investigation.By virtue of royalletters patent issued in 1947,the chief justice of Canada is theex officioprincipal deputy to the governor general, and may act as governor general when the office is vacant.[9][10]Only justices of the Supreme Court of Canada are authorized to perform federal viceregal duties on an acting basis. He ceased to hold office as administrator on July 26, 2021, followingMary Simon's appointment as governor general.[11][10]Serving for six months, Wagner was the longest-serving administrator of Canada in history.[12]

Personal life

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Wagner is aRoman Catholic.[13]Wagner's father Claude was also a jurist. His grandfather was a German Jewish immigrant originally fromBavaria.Wagner has two children who are also lawyers.[1]

Honours

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Scholastic

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Honorary degrees
Location Date School Degree Gave Commencement Address
Ontario June 19, 2019 University of Ottawa Doctorate Yes[14]
Ontario June 14, 2023 Law Society of Ontario Doctorate No

Memberships and fellowships

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Country Date Organization Position
United States American College of Trial Lawyers Honorary Fellow[15]
Ireland The Honorable Society of King’s Inns Honorary Bencher[16]
England The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple Honorary Bencher
Canada Friends of the McGill Library Honorary Friend
Canada Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters Honorary President

See also

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References

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  1. ^abMacCharles, Tonda (December 12, 2017)."Justin Trudeau names Richard Wagner new Chief Justice of Canada".Toronto Star.Archivedfrom the original on December 12, 2017.RetrievedDecember 12,2017.
  2. ^"Richard Wagner sworn in as Supreme Court chief justice - YouTube".www.youtube.com.Archivedfrom the original on January 28, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021.
  3. ^abcQuebec Court of Appeal.The Honourable Richard Wagner.Retrieved October 2, 2012.ArchivedMay 17, 2014, at theWayback Machine
  4. ^CBC News(October 2, 2012)."Quebec judge Richard Wagner nominated to Supreme Court"ArchivedOctober 3, 2012, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  5. ^The Canadian Press."CBC News - MP questions 'introduce' Supreme Court nominee Wagner Montreal judge is Conservative government's 5th appointment".CBC News.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2012.RetrievedOctober 5,2012.
  6. ^"Supreme Court welcomes Justice Wagner to bench".CBC.ca.December 3, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on December 4, 2012.RetrievedDecember 3,2012.
  7. ^"Prime Minister names the Honourable Richard Wagner as new Chief Justice of Canada".pm.gc.ca(Press release).PMO.December 12, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on July 23, 2019.RetrievedDecember 12,2017.
  8. ^"News Releases - SCC Cases (Lexum)".scc-csc.lexum.com(Press release). December 12, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on December 12, 2017.RetrievedDecember 12,2017.
  9. ^Burke, Ashley (January 21, 2021)."Payette stepping down as governor general after blistering report on Rideau Hall work environment".CBC News.Archivedfrom the original on January 21, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 21,2021.
  10. ^abPlatt, Brian [@btaplatt] (January 25, 2021)."For clarity's sake, I asked PCO to confirm Payette is fully and completely out of the role and that CJ Richard Wagner has been sworn in as administrator. PCO confirms that's the case, says Wagner was sworn in on Saturday, Jan. 23. https://t.co/hZW2cv66b4"(Tweet).Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2021.RetrievedJune 14,2021– viaTwitter.
  11. ^Graham Slaughter (January 21, 2021)."Canada's top judge is now Governor General, but expert urges speedy replacement".CTVNEWS.Archivedfrom the original on January 22, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 22,2021.
  12. ^[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/chief-justice-still-acting-gg-six-months-later-1.6069344Six months after former GG Payette's resignation, chief justice still juggling two jobs ]
  13. ^"Richard Wagner".Canadian Who's Who 2014-2015.Toronto: Third Sector Publishing, 2015.
  14. ^"WAGNER, Richard".Office of the President.Archived fromthe originalon August 15, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021.
  15. ^"Honorary Fellows".www.actl.com.Archivedfrom the original on August 9, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021.
  16. ^"The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada".Supreme Court of Canada.January 2001.RetrievedApril 26,2023.
Order of precedence
Preceded byasPrime Minister Order of Precedence of Canada
asChief Justice 		Succeeded byasFormer Governor General
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