Constance Rachelle Glube, OC ONS (November 23, 1931 – February 15, 2016) was the 21st Chief Justice of Nova Scotia and first female Chief Justice in Canada.

Constance Glube
21st Chief Justice of Nova Scotia
In office
1998 – December 31, 2004
Nominated byJean Chrétien
Preceded byLorne Clarke
Succeeded byJ. Michael MacDonald
Personal details
Born(1931-11-23)November 23, 1931
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
DiedFebruary 15, 2016(2016-02-15) (aged 84)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Early life

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Born Constance Lepofsky in Ottawa, she was the daughter of the late Samuel (1894–1956) and Pearl (Slonensky) Lepofsky (1900–1986).[1] Glube attended McGill University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952. In 1955, she graduated from Dalhousie Law School and was called to the bar in 1956.[2]

Judicial career

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In 1982, she was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. In 1998 she was appointed Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, which included the title of Chief Justice of Nova Scotia. Glube retired effective December 31, 2004, and was replaced by J. Michael MacDonald.[3]

One of the higher profile cases she heard, was for an injunction to halt the Richard Inquiry into the Westray Mine disaster.[4] She ruled, on November 13, 1992, that the Inquiry was unconstitutional, because she viewed it as a criminal investigation that would force deponents to incriminate themselves.[4] This was the first time in Canada a public inquiry was halted before any witnesses were heard.[4] Her ruling was overturned by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal on January 19, 1993, but did delay the inquiry until all charges went through the court system first.[5]

Awards

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In 1997 she was a recipient of the Frances Fish Women Lawyers Achievement Award.[6] Glube was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2006 for her part in serving the community as a legal trailblazer, including becoming the first female chief justice in Canada.[7]

In 2009, the Nova Scotia branch of the Canadian Bar Association established the Contance R. Glube CBA Spirit Award to recognize achievement in law by Nova Scotian women lawyers.[8]

Death

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On February 15, 2016, Glube died in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ In Memory of Constance Rachelle Glube Legacy.com
  2. ^ "The Honourable Constance R. Glube Retired Chief Justice of Nova Scotia". The Courts of Nova Scotia. Halifax: Queen's Printer for Nova Scotia. 2006. Archived from the original on 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
  3. ^ New chief justice of Nova Scotia appointed Archived 2016-08-14 at the Wayback Machine NovaNewsNet
  4. ^ a b c Cox, Kevin (1992-11-14). "Court Halts Westray inquiry". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. A4.
  5. ^ Spears, John (1993-01-20). "Westray inquiry given go ahead". The Toronto Star. Toronto. p. A2.
  6. ^ "Past Recipients of the Frances Fish Women Lawyers' Achievement Award". The Courts of Nova Scotia. Halifax: Queen's Printer for Nova Scotia. 2006. Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
  7. ^ "Constance R. Glube, O.C., O.N.S., LL.B., LL.D." Governor General of Canada: It's an honour. Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada. 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
  8. ^ Contance R. Glube CBA Spitit Award Archived 2013-04-14 at archive.today
  9. ^ "Constance Glube dies at 84". The Chronicle Herald. February 15, 2016. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  10. ^ "Constance Glube, 1st female chief justice of a Canadian court, dead at 84". CBC News. February 15, 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
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