Allan McEachern
Encyclopedia
Allan McEachern, BA
, LL.B, LL.D (Honoris Causa) (May 20, 1926 – January 10, 2008) was a Canadian
lawyer, a judge, and a Chancellor
of the University of British Columbia
.
Mr. McEachern practiced law with the leading Vancouver law firm of Russell and DuMoulin for 28 years since being called to the bar in 1951. He became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1979. In 1988 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Appeal Court of British Columbia and retired from that position in May 2001. Later that year he returned to the practice of law at his former firm, now called Fasken Martineau DuMoulin.
His career as Chief Justice in both courts was distinguished by his reform of court procedure and for bringing the Canadian legal system closer to the public by being the first judge in Canada to host his own web site, which invited the public to e-mail their questions about the legal system. In addition, he chaired the Legal Aid Society from 1975 to 1976 and served from 1996 to 2001 as vice-chair of the Canadian Judicial Council, the body responsible for dealing with issues relating to the performance of federally appointed judges in Canada.
Mr. McEachern also served as a Director of the Vancouver Bar Association, President of the Legal Aid Society, Bencher of the Law Society and a member of the Council of the Canadian Bar Association, President of the B.C. Lions, President of the Canadian Football League, Commissioner in the Canadian Football League and Ethics Commissioner for VANOC.
with a Bachelor of Arts in 1949, followed by a law degree in 1950.
in 1990. He was a Life Bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia
.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, LL.B, LL.D (Honoris Causa) (May 20, 1926 – January 10, 2008) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer, a judge, and a Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
Career
Mr. McEachern became UBC's 16th chancellor in 2002. He graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts in 1949, a law degree in 1950 and was given an honorary doctor of Laws degree in 1990. He was Douglas McK. Brown Visiting Professor and Peter Wall Distinguished Fellow in the Faculty of Law from September 2001 until June 2002 when he resigned these appointments upon being elected Chancellor.Mr. McEachern practiced law with the leading Vancouver law firm of Russell and DuMoulin for 28 years since being called to the bar in 1951. He became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1979. In 1988 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Appeal Court of British Columbia and retired from that position in May 2001. Later that year he returned to the practice of law at his former firm, now called Fasken Martineau DuMoulin.
His career as Chief Justice in both courts was distinguished by his reform of court procedure and for bringing the Canadian legal system closer to the public by being the first judge in Canada to host his own web site, which invited the public to e-mail their questions about the legal system. In addition, he chaired the Legal Aid Society from 1975 to 1976 and served from 1996 to 2001 as vice-chair of the Canadian Judicial Council, the body responsible for dealing with issues relating to the performance of federally appointed judges in Canada.
Mr. McEachern also served as a Director of the Vancouver Bar Association, President of the Legal Aid Society, Bencher of the Law Society and a member of the Council of the Canadian Bar Association, President of the B.C. Lions, President of the Canadian Football League, Commissioner in the Canadian Football League and Ethics Commissioner for VANOC.
Education
McEachern graduated from the University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
with a Bachelor of Arts in 1949, followed by a law degree in 1950.
Recognition
He was granted an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in 1990. He was a Life Bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia
The Law Society of British Columbia
is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers in British Columbia, Canada. Its primary mandate under the is to uphold the public interest in the administration of justice by preserving and protecting the rights and freedoms of all persons, ensuring the independence, integrity and honour of...
.