William Stevenson (judge)
Encyclopedia
William Alexander Stevenson, OC
(born May 7, 1934) was a Puisne Justice
of the Supreme Court of Canada
from 1990 to 1992.
with a B.A.
, and then an LL.B.
in 1957. While at university, he helped found the Alberta Law Review
and served as its first Editor in Chief. Upon graduation, he received the Horace Harvey
Gold Medal in Law.
In 1963, he became a teacher at the University of Alberta, serving as a full time professor from 1968 until 1970 when he returned to his firm. In 1975, he was the first Chairman of the Legal Education Society of Alberta.
in 1979. The following year he was appointed to the Court of Appeal of Alberta
where he stayed for over ten years. He has also served on the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories
from 1976-1980, the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories
from 1980-1990, and the Supreme Court of the Yukon Territory from 1978-1983. He also was a founder of the Canadian Judicial Centre in the late 1980s, and is seen as a pioneer of continuing education for Canadian judges.
On September 17, 1990, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, however, he retired only two years later on June 5, 1992 for health reasons. Between October 1990 and April 1992 he published a total of 21 reasons for judgment.
from the University of Alberta. In 1996 he was made an Officer 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...
(born May 7, 1934) was a Puisne Justice
Puisne Justice
A Puisne Justice or Puisne Judge is the title for a regular member of a Court. This is distinguished from the head of the Court who is known as the Chief Justice or Chief Judge. The term is used almost exclusively in common law jurisdictions such as England, Australia, Kenya, Canada, Sri Lanka,...
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...
from 1990 to 1992.
Early life
Stevenson was born in Edmonton, Alberta to Alexander Lindsay Stevenson and Eileen Harriet Burns. In 1956, he graduated from the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
with a B.A.
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...
, and then an LL.B.
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...
in 1957. While at university, he helped found the Alberta Law Review
Alberta Law Review
The Alberta Law Review is a peer-reviewed law review or legal journal, published quarterly by the Alberta Law Review Society. The Society is a non-profit organization consisting entirely of students from both the University of Alberta Faculty of Law and the University of Calgary Faculty of Law.The...
and served as its first Editor in Chief. Upon graduation, he received the Horace Harvey
Horace Harvey
Horace Harvey was a lawyer, jurist, and a Chief Justice of Alberta, Canada.-Early and Family Life:...
Gold Medal in Law.
Career
He worked at the firm of Morrow, Morrow & Reynolds (subsequently Morrow, Reynolds and Stevenson) in Edmonton until 1968.In 1963, he became a teacher at the University of Alberta, serving as a full time professor from 1968 until 1970 when he returned to his firm. In 1975, he was the first Chairman of the Legal Education Society of Alberta.
Justice
In 1975, he was appointed to the District Court of Alberta and then to the Court of Queen's Bench of AlbertaCourt of Queen's Bench of Alberta
The Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta is the superior court of the Canadian province of Alberta....
in 1979. The following year he was appointed to the Court of Appeal of Alberta
Court of Appeal of Alberta
The Court of Appeal of Alberta is an Canadian appellate court.-Jurisdiction and Hierarchy within Canadian Courts:The Court is the highest court in Alberta, Canada...
where he stayed for over ten years. He has also served on the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories
Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories
The Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories is the name of two different superior courts for the Canadian territory of the Northwest Territories, which have existed at different times.The first Supreme Court of the North-West Territories was created in 1885...
from 1976-1980, the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories
Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories
The Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories is the highest appellate court which hears appeals from criminal cases and civil cases of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories....
from 1980-1990, and the Supreme Court of the Yukon Territory from 1978-1983. He also was a founder of the Canadian Judicial Centre in the late 1980s, and is seen as a pioneer of continuing education for Canadian judges.
On September 17, 1990, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, however, he retired only two years later on June 5, 1992 for health reasons. Between October 1990 and April 1992 he published a total of 21 reasons for judgment.
Publications
Alongside, Jean E.L. Cote, Stevenson has authored the Annotations of The Alberta Rules of Court which would become the Civil Procedure Encyclopedia, a five volume treatise used often by barristers and the courts.Awards
In 1992 he received an Honourary LLDLegum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
from the University of Alberta. In 1996 he was made an Officer 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...
.