The Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History

Osgoode Society Books
  1. Home
  2. Books
  3. Middleton: The Beloved Judge

Middleton: The Beloved Judge

1988

by John D. Arnup. Published with McClelland & Stewart, 1988.

William Edward Middleton served as Justice of the Supreme Court of Ontario for thirty-three years. His written judgments, many still cited today, are models of insight and wisdom. In addition to his contribution to jurisprudence, Middleton, at a time when a number of Supreme Court Justices were belligerent to counsel and irascible toward their brother judges, set a high standard of courtesy and civility that has endured to the present day. The Honourable John D. Arnup, himself a distinguished member of the Court of Appeal for Ontario from 1970 to 1985, consciously carried on in the Middleton tradition. Mr. Arnup knew Middleton well and admired him greatly. Based on personal knowledge as well as research into frequently elusive sources, Mr. Arnup’s study of Middleton focuses on his judicial career, his role as law reformer, and his influence on the style and substance of the High Court. One of the purposes of the Osgoode Society is to encourage members of the legal profession to take pen in hand and to share their experiences with a wider public. Mr. Arnup’s warm and affectionate portrait of his distinguished predecessor is an enjoyable and immensely informative work.

Reviews of Middleton: The Beloved Judge

[This book] follows the high standards of the Osgoode Society in providing a solid contribution to Ontario’s legal history.  DeLloyd J. Guth, Canadian Bar Review, Vol. 68, 1989, p. 862.
A book in which the author presents a written tribute focusing on Middleton’s judicial career, his role as a law reformer, and his influence on the style and substance of the Supreme Court. Patrick Boyer, Muskoka Sun.

Reviews have also appeared in the following publications:

  • William E. Thoms, American Review of Canadian Studies, Vol 21, 1991, p. 114.
  • Paul Axelrod, American Historical Review, Vol 95, 1990, p. 301.
  • Hugh W. Silverman, Criminal Law Quarterly, Vol 32, 1990, p. 270.
  • Mark MacGuigan, Canadian Historical Review, Vol 70, 1989, p. 139.
  • Peter Martin, The Whig-Standard (Kingston), 18 March 1989, p. 1.
  • D.A. Peppiatt, Anglican Journal Vol 115, 1989, p. 24.
  • Jean Farquharson, CM: Canadian Materials for Schools and Libraries, Vol 17, 1989, p. 11.
  • Hamar Foster, Canadian Law Information Council Letter, Vol 12, 1989, p. 1.
  • The Ottawa Citizen, 3 December 1989, p. F3.
  • P.T.M., Advocates’ Quarterly, Vol 10, 1988-1989, p. 255.
  • Patrick Brode, Ottawa Law Review, Vol 20, 1988, p. 503.
  • Tom Bastedo, The Toronto Star, 10 December 1988, p. M16.
  • H. Allan Leal, Quill & Quire, Vol 54, 1988, p. 23.

John Douglas Arnup (1911 – 2005)

After being called to the bar in 1935 John Arnup practiced with Mason, Foulds, Davidson, Carter & Kellock (now Weir and Foulds). During his time at the firm, he became one of Toronto’s most highly regarded litigators. Arnup was elected a Bencher to the Law Society of upper Canada in 1952 and Treasurer in 1963…. Read more »

Contents:

CONTENTS

Preface 7

1. The Family Man 11
2. Student-at-Law 21
3. The Lawyer 25
4. The Botanist 33
5. The Cottager 36
6. The Bookman 41
7. A New Judge 44
8. Middleton and His Colleagues 48
9. Every Judge For Himself 58
10. Was Fraser Insane? 67
11. The 1913 Rules of Practice 73
12. Corn Flakes: The Case That Would Not End 79
13. Turmoil in Guelph 83
14. Other Public Inquiries 98
15. Revising the Statutes 103
16. The Cooked-Up Case 110
17. A Long Memory 114
18. The Millar Will Case 121
19. Middleton and the Lawyers 136
20. Doctor Middleton 148
21. Retirement and Death 151
22. Vignettes 164
23. Final Judgment 171

Notes 191

Index 199