Roland Ritchie
Encyclopedia
Roland Almon Ritchie, CC
(June 19, 1910 – June 5, 1988) was a Canadian
lawyer
and Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
.
Born in Halifax
, Nova Scotia
, the son of William Bruce Almon Ritchie and Lillian Stewart, he received a B.A. from the University of King's College
in 1930, a B.A. in 1932 from Oxford University, and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar
in 1934. Ritchie was a scion of prominent families—the Almons, Ritchies, and Stewarts were all major families in Nova Scotia—and his brother, Charles Ritchie
was an important Canadian diplomat and diarist.
His law practice was interrupted by World War II
, where he served as Assistant Deputy Judge Advocate with the Third Canadian Division from 1941 to 1944. After the war he helped found the law firm, Daley, Phinney & Ritchie. He also was a lecturer on insurance law at Dalhousie University
.
In 1959, without any previous judicial experience, Ritchie was appointed by the Diefenbaker government to replace Ivan Rand
on the Supreme Court of Canada.
He served on the Court until his retirement in 1984. In 1985 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
. From 1974 to 1988, he was the Chancellor of the University of King's College.
Ritchie's judgements were typically conservative, which often put him on side with Ronald Martland
and Wilfred Judson
.
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...
(June 19, 1910 – June 5, 1988) 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
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...
and Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
.
Born in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, the son of William Bruce Almon Ritchie and Lillian Stewart, he received a B.A. from the University of King's College
University of King's College
The University of King's College is a post-secondary institution in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. King's is a small liberal arts university offering mainly undergraduate programs....
in 1930, a B.A. in 1932 from Oxford University, and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar
Nova Scotia Barristers' Society
The Nova Scotia Barristers' Society is the statutory body charged with the regulation of the legal profession in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The Legislature of Nova Scotia has enacted the Legal Profession Act, which gives lawyers in Nova Scotia the powers of self-regulation, through the...
in 1934. Ritchie was a scion of prominent families—the Almons, Ritchies, and Stewarts were all major families in Nova Scotia—and his brother, Charles Ritchie
Charles Ritchie
Charles Stewart Almon Ritchie, CC was a Canadian diplomat and diarist.Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was Canada’s ambassador to West Germany , Permanent Representative to the United Nations , ambassador to the United States during the presidencies of John F...
was an important Canadian diplomat and diarist.
His law practice was interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he served as Assistant Deputy Judge Advocate with the Third Canadian Division from 1941 to 1944. After the war he helped found the law firm, Daley, Phinney & Ritchie. He also was a lecturer on insurance law at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
.
In 1959, without any previous judicial experience, Ritchie was appointed by the Diefenbaker government to replace Ivan Rand
Ivan Rand
Ivan Cleveland Rand, CC was a Canadian lawyer, politician, academic, and Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada....
on the Supreme Court of Canada.
He served on the Court until his retirement in 1984. In 1985 he was made a Companion 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...
. From 1974 to 1988, he was the Chancellor of the University of King's College.
Ritchie's judgements were typically conservative, which often put him on side with Ronald Martland
Ronald Martland
Ronald Martland, CC, QC, AOE was a Canadian Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.Born in Liverpool, England, he was the second Albertan ever to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Justice Martland attended the University of Alberta and obtained a B.A. in 1926 and an LL.B in 1928...
and Wilfred Judson
Wilfred Judson
Wilfred Judson, was a Canadian lawyer and Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.Born in Todmorden, England, he received a BA in 1922 and an MA in 1923 from the University of Manchester. In 1923 he emigrated to Canada and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the bar in...
.