Patrick LeSage
Encyclopedia
Patrick J. LeSage, CM
, O.Ont
is a lawyer and former judge. He spent 29 years as a judge, and until 2002 was the Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
. He received his legal education at Osgoode Hall Law School
graduating in 1961.
In 1995, LeSage presided over the trial of Paul Bernardo
in connection with the kidnapping, torture, and murders of Kristen French
and Leslie Mahaffy
in St. Catharines, Ontario
. LeSage has said this was the case that affected him most profoundly in his career.
In 1975 LeSage was appointed to Ontario's County and District Court. In 1983 he was named Associate Chief Judge of that court.
At some point the County and District Court was merged into the Ontario Court (General Division). LeSage became Associate Chief Justice of that court in 1994 and Chief Justice in 1996. (After the court system was reorganized in 1999, LeSage was Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.)
Since 2004, LeSage has sat on the Board of Governors
of York University
. In 2005 he was elected a senior fellow of Massey College
. He was also appointed a commissioner of the Ontario Securities Commission.
The Government of Ontario appointed LeSage to conduct a review of the province's police complaints system; he presented his report on this matter in 2005.
The Attorney General of Manitoba appointed LeSage to conduct an inquiry into the wrongful conviction of James Driskell
for murder.
LeSage holds honorary degrees from the University of Windsor
(1996), Laurentian University
(2001), and the Law Society of Upper Canada
(2006).
Retired from the bench, Lesage is now practicing as a lawyer at the firm Gowlings in Toronto
.
LeSage is married to Susan Lang, who sits on the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
In December 2007 LeSage was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to the Ontario judiciary, notably as Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Ontario, and for his ongoing dedication to public service. In 2009, he was made a member of the Order 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...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
is a lawyer and former judge. He spent 29 years as a judge, and until 2002 was the Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Superior Court of Justice is the superior court of general jurisdiction for the Province of Ontario, Canada. It is the successor to the former Ontario Court of Justice , and was created on April 19, 1999...
. He received his legal education at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
graduating in 1961.
In 1995, LeSage presided over the trial of Paul Bernardo
Paul Bernardo
Paul Kenneth Bernardo, also known as Paul Jason Teale , is a Canadian serial killer and rapist, known for the sexual assaults and murders he committed with his wife Karla Homolka and the serial rapes he committed in Scarborough.-Early life:Bernardo's mother, Marilyn, was the adopted daughter of a...
in connection with the kidnapping, torture, and murders of Kristen French
Kristen French
Kristen Dawn French was a Canadian Catholic school girl and the victim of a gruesome and much-publicized murder.-Biography:...
and Leslie Mahaffy
Leslie Mahaffy
Leslie Erin Mahaffy was a teenaged female student, resident of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, who was murdered by serial killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka. Mahaffy's kidnapping was one in a series of disappearances of Ontario schoolgirls in the early 1990s, including Kristen French, also a...
in St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
. LeSage has said this was the case that affected him most profoundly in his career.
In 1975 LeSage was appointed to Ontario's County and District Court. In 1983 he was named Associate Chief Judge of that court.
At some point the County and District Court was merged into the Ontario Court (General Division). LeSage became Associate Chief Justice of that court in 1994 and Chief Justice in 1996. (After the court system was reorganized in 1999, LeSage was Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.)
Since 2004, LeSage has sat on the Board of Governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
of 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 2005 he was elected a senior fellow of Massey College
Massey College
Massey College is a postgraduate residential college at the University of Toronto, established in 1963 with an endowment by the Massey Foundation. Similar to All Souls College, Oxford, members of Massey College are nominated from the university community, and are elected by and as fellows of the...
. He was also appointed a commissioner of the Ontario Securities Commission.
The Government of Ontario appointed LeSage to conduct a review of the province's police complaints system; he presented his report on this matter in 2005.
The Attorney General of Manitoba appointed LeSage to conduct an inquiry into the wrongful conviction of James Driskell
James Driskell
James Patrick Driskell is a Canadian who was wrongfully convicted for the murder of Perry Harder in 1991. Driskell has 7 children and 14 grandchildren.-The Crime and Prosecution:...
for murder.
LeSage holds honorary degrees from the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
(1996), Laurentian University
Laurentian University
Laurentian University , was incorporated on March 28, 1960, is a mid-sized bilingual university in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada....
(2001), and 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"...
(2006).
Retired from the bench, Lesage is now practicing as a lawyer at the firm Gowlings 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...
.
LeSage is married to Susan Lang, who sits on the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
In December 2007 LeSage was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to the Ontario judiciary, notably as Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Ontario, and for his ongoing dedication to public service. In 2009, he was made a member of the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
.