Clayton Ruby
Encyclopedia
Clayton Charles Ruby, CM
, QC
is a Canadian
lawyer
, specializing in constitutional and criminal law and civil rights. He is one of the most famous lawyers in Canada at present, having served as a defence lawyer in a number of high-profile cases.
Ruby received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from York University
in 1963. He earned an Bachelor of Laws
degree from the University of Toronto
in 1969, and was called to the bar in 1969. In 1973 he earned an Master of Laws
from the University of California, Berkeley
.
Since 2007, he has been a partner with the law firm of Ruby Shiller Chan in Toronto
, Ontario
.
In 2006, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
.
In late 2005, Clayton Ruby became the acting Treasurer, or elected head, of the Law Society of Upper Canada
, the body responsible for regulating the Province of Ontario. On February 23, 2006, however, Ruby was defeated in a special election and ceased to be Treasurer.
Clayton Ruby has won support across the political spectrum. Right wing tabloid journalist Judi McLeod
wrote in Our Toronto (now The Canada Free Press), "In the courtroom Clayton Ruby is recognized as one of this country's most brilliant criminal lawyers. Other lawyers have told me that internationally he is recognized as a leading theorist and a man of strong principle. Not many know that outside the courtroom, Clayton Ruby is lead crusader in a cause that is no less than vital to keeping Canada a democracy, by enshrining Freedom of the Press. Thank you, Clayton Ruby, for your noble efforts in guarding Freedom of the Press."
He is married to Madam Justice Harriet Sachs of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
is 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
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, specializing in constitutional and criminal law and civil rights. He is one of the most famous lawyers in Canada at present, having served as a defence lawyer in a number of high-profile cases.
Ruby received a Bachelor of Arts
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...
degree from York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in 1963. He earned an Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1969, and was called to the bar in 1969. In 1973 he earned an Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Since 2007, he has been a partner with the law firm of Ruby Shiller Chan in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
In 2006, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
In late 2005, Clayton Ruby became the acting Treasurer, or elected head, of the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
, the body responsible for regulating the Province of Ontario. On February 23, 2006, however, Ruby was defeated in a special election and ceased to be Treasurer.
Clayton Ruby has won support across the political spectrum. Right wing tabloid journalist Judi McLeod
Judi McLeod
Judi Ann T. McLeod is a Canadian journalist who operates the conservative Canadian website, Canada Free Press , which publishes news stories, features, and editorials.-Early life and career:...
wrote in Our Toronto (now The Canada Free Press), "In the courtroom Clayton Ruby is recognized as one of this country's most brilliant criminal lawyers. Other lawyers have told me that internationally he is recognized as a leading theorist and a man of strong principle. Not many know that outside the courtroom, Clayton Ruby is lead crusader in a cause that is no less than vital to keeping Canada a democracy, by enshrining Freedom of the Press. Thank you, Clayton Ruby, for your noble efforts in guarding Freedom of the Press."
He is married to Madam Justice Harriet Sachs of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario.
Clients
Some of Ruby's high-profile clients have been the following:- AdbustersAdBustersThe Adbusters Media Foundation is a Canadian-based not-for-profit, anti-consumerist, pro-environment organization founded in 1989 by Kalle Lasn and Bill Schmalz in Vancouver, British Columbia...
- Dwayne Karlton Armstrong
- The Church of ScientologyChurch of ScientologyThe Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
- Atif Rafay and Glen Sebastian Burns
- Abdurahman KhadrAbdurahman KhadrAbdurahman Khadr is the third child of the Egyptian Canadian Khadr family, and was held in extrajudicial detention in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps, in Cuba, after being detained in Afghanistan under suspicion of connections to Al-Qaeda...
- Svend RobinsonSvend RobinsonSvend Robinson is a former Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 2004, representing the suburban Vancouver-area constituency of Burnaby for the New Democratic Party...
- Guy Paul MorinGuy Paul MorinGuy Paul Morin is a Canadian who was wrongly convicted of the October 1984 rape and murder of his eight-year-old next-door neighbour, Christine Jessop of Queensville, Ontario. DNA testing led to a subsequent overturning of this verdict....
- A group of four persons challenging OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
's Adoption Information Disclosure ActAdoption Information Disclosure ActThe Adoption Information Disclosure Act, formally An Act respecting the disclosure of information and records to adopted persons and birth parents, also known as Bill 183, is an Ontario law regarding the disclosure of information between parties involved in adoptions.Passed by the Legislative... - The Banned Aid Coalition
External links
- Biography of Ruby, from the Law Society of Upper CanadaLaw Society of Upper CanadaThe Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...