The Hon. R. Roy McMurtry

This interview with Roy McMurtry covers his transition from Chief Justice of the Trial Court to Chief Justice of Ontario in 1996, succeeding Charles Dubin. McMurtry discusses the internal dynamics of his appointment, particularly his concerns about potentially disappointing his friend John Morden, who many expected would succeed Dubin. He describes implementing significant administrative reforms to address the Court of Appeal’s substantial backlog, including introducing time limits on oral arguments and establishing a six-month rule for reserved decisions.

McMurtry emphasizes his role in securing quality judicial appointments through his relationships with federal Ministers of Justice, including Anne McLellan, Alan Rock, Irwin Cotler, and Martin Cauchon. He discusses diversifying the court with appointments of Indigenous, South Asian, and female judges. The interview also covers his experiences managing judicial personnel issues, including dealing with illness among judges and maintaining collegiality on the court.

The discussion extends to McMurtry’s post-retirement activities, including his work on Pro Bono Law Ontario and his role as Chancellor of York University. He reflects on access to justice issues, the challenges facing the legal system, and his ongoing involvement in addressing youth violence and systemic racism through his work on “The Roots of Youth Violence” report for the Ontario government.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.