Mary T. Moreau (born 1955 or 1956) is a Canadian jurist serving as a puisne justice on the Supreme Court of Canada since November 6, 2023 and is the first Franco-Albertain to sit on the Supreme Court. She formerly served as the Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta from 2017–2023. Her formal welcoming to the Supreme Court of Canada occurred on February 19, 2024.
Mary Moreau | |
|---|---|
| Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada | |
| Assumed office November 6, 2023 | |
| Nominated by | Justin Trudeau |
| Appointed by | Mary Simon |
| Preceded by | Russell Brown |
| Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta | |
| In office October 17, 2017 – November 6, 2023 | |
| Nominated by | Justin Trudeau |
| Monarchs | |
| Premier | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1955 or 1956 (age 68–69)[1] Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Alma mater | University of Alberta |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Early life and education
editMoreau was born in Edmonton, Alberta. She attended the University of Alberta Faculty of Law from 1976 to 1979, enrolled in a Civil Code of Québec study program at the University of Sherbrooke in 1977, and was called to the bar by the Law Society of Alberta in 1980.[2][3]
Career
editMoreau began her career as a lawyer practising criminal law, constitutional law, and civil litigation. Over her career she took on cases including minority language rights and Charter rights.[2] She then became a judge in 1994.[4]
In 2017, Moreau became the first woman to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta.[5] On October 26, 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nominated Moreau to the Supreme Court of Canada to replace Russell Brown following his resignation on June 12, 2023, following allegations of harassment.[6] Her appointment was confirmed on November 6, 2023.[7] She filled one of the two seats on the bench reserved for those from Western Canada.[8]
She is also a founder of the Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Alberta, a French-language rights organization.[2]
Judicial philosophy
editOver her judicial career, Moreau has advocated for equal access to justice in both of Canada's official languages: English and French.[9] As a young lawyer she won the right for Albertans to choose a criminal trial in French with a French-speaking jury, after a six-year fight ending in the Supreme Court of Canada.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Fine, Sean (2023-11-01) [first published 2023-11-01], "'I consider her a fighter': Supreme Court pick Mary Moreau hailed as a voice for minority rights", The Globe and Mail website, retrieved 2023-11-11,
On Thursday, the 67-year-old is to answer questions from a Parliamentary committee.
- ^ a b c Faguy, Yves (October 26, 2023), "Trudeau names Justice Mary Moreau to Supreme Court", National Magazine website, Canadian Bar Association, archived from the original on October 26, 2023, retrieved October 26, 2023
- ^ "Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Canada - The Honourable Mary Moreau's Questionnaire", Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs website, 2015-11-26, retrieved 2023-10-30
- ^ "Trudeau announces nomination of Alberta judge Mary Moreau to Supreme Court". Toronto Star. October 26, 2023.
- ^ "1st woman appointed chief justice of Alberta Court of Queen's Bench". CBC. October 17, 2017.
- ^ "Prime Minister announces the nomination of the Honourable Mary T. Moreau to the Supreme Court of Canada". Prime Minister's Office. October 26, 2023.
- ^ "The Honourable Mary T. Moreau". Ottawa, Ontario: Supreme Court of Canada. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Alberta francophone to be appointed next Supreme Court justice: sources". CBC. October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Mary Moreau, une femme engagée pour la justice en français". Radio Ici. October 17, 2017.
External links
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