GORDON BALE, Chief Justice William Johnstone Ritchie: Responsible
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Document generated on 09/27/2021 12:13 a.m. Les Cahiers de droit GORDON BALE, Chief Justice William Johnstone Ritchie: Responsible Government and Judicial Review, Ottawa, Carleton University Press (Carleton Library Series, n° 165), 1991, 382 p., ISBN 0-88629-134-8. Marc Nadon Volume 34, Number 1, 1993 URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/043206ar DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/043206ar See table of contents Publisher(s) Faculté de droit de l’Université Laval ISSN 0007-974X (print) 1918-8218 (digital) Explore this journal Cite this review Nadon, M. (1993). Review of [GORDON BALE, Chief Justice William Johnstone Ritchie: Responsible Government and Judicial Review, Ottawa, Carleton University Press (Carleton Library Series, n° 165), 1991, 382 p., ISBN 0-88629-134-8.] Les Cahiers de droit, 34(1), 311–314. https://doi.org/10.7202/043206ar Tous droits réservés © Faculté de droit de l’Université Laval, 1993 This document is protected by copyright law. Use of the services of Érudit (including reproduction) is subject to its terms and conditions, which can be viewed online. https://apropos.erudit.org/en/users/policy-on-use/ This article is disseminated and preserved by Érudit. Érudit is a non-profit inter-university consortium of the Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and the Université du Québec à Montréal. Its mission is to promote and disseminate research. https://www.erudit.org/en/ Chronique bibliographique 311 l'époque7. Certaines de ses héroïnes sont non leurs clients, accusant les femmes d'in connues et ont laissé leurs marques, comme fanticide plutôt que de les aider financière Emily Stowe, première Canadienne à pra ment, donnant la garde des enfants au père à tiquer la médecine, ou Clara Brett Martin, moins que la conduite de la mère ne soit première avocate du Commonwealth. D'au irréprochable. tres étaient inconnues, comme Suzanne Pas Évidemment, ces héroïnes n'ont pas de nom-Connolly, une Amérindienne crie tenté de remettre en question le système ju dont le mariage célébré à la façon du pays fut diciaire et sa façon de traiter les femmes, validé par la Cour supérieure de Montréal en comme on peut le leur reprocher aujourd 1867 et permit ainsi à ses enfants d'hériter de 'hui. La contestation des procédures, la fortune de leur père blanc, malgré son comme l'a fait Esther Forsyth Arscott pour mariage subséquent à une Blanche. Ensuite, avoir été emprisonnée injustement10, était l'approche féministe se manifeste dans la exceptionnelle. Cependant, déjà à cette diversité culturelle des héroïnes. Dans la époque, les femmes faisaient face au di mesure où les archives judiciaires le lui ont lemme qui habitent les féministes d'au permis, l'auteure tient compte de l'expé jourd'hui: tenter d'être pareilles aux hom rience de toutes les femmes, non seulement mes, ou plutôt tenter de valoriser les dif blanches, de la classe moyenne, mais aussi férences des femmes ? Peut-être les histo immigrantes et membres des Premières Na riennes du XXIe siècle reprocheront-elles aux tions de cette époque. Il ne peut y avoir une femmes du xxc siècle d'avoir si peu contesté seule histoire des femmes — celle des fem les institutions judiciaires. mes blanches, comme il ne peut y avoir une seule théorie féministe. Enfin, contrairement Louise LANGEVIN à un courant en histoire qui veut que l'his Université Laval torienne rapporte et analyse les faits de ma nière neutre et objective, sans porter de ju 10. Id.. p. 244 et suiv. gement de valeur, parce que ces valeurs sont le fruit de l'époque de l'historienne et non GORDON BALE. Chief Justice William John celles de la période étudiée. Constance Back stone Ritchie: Responsible Government house n'hésite pas à porter des jugements sur and Judicial Review, Ottawa, Carleton ses héroïnes. Elle justifie son approche pour University Press (Carleton Library Se éviter que les erreurs de ces dernières ne se ries, n° 165). 1991, 382 p., ISBN 0-88629- reproduisent. Elle ne se gêne pas pour dé 134-8. noncer l'antisémitisme de l'avocate Clara Brett Martin" ou la position ambiguë de la Thomas Ritchie was called to the Bar of médecin Emily Stowe par rapport à l'avor- Nova Scotia some time between 1795 and tement9. D'ailleurs, quelle historienne peut 1798. Five of hissons, eleven grandsons, five clamer écrire l'histoire de façon impartiale et great-grandsons' and three great-great- grandsons followed his footsteps and became neutre, alors que le seul choix d'événements 2 reflète ses valeurs et préjugés ? lawyers. This book is about one of his sons, William Johnstone Ritchie (« W.J.R. »), the Enfin, l'ouvrage est féministe aussi dans second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of ses conclusions. Par ses recherches, l'au Canada. teure dénonce le contrôle exercé par le sys W.J.R. was born on October 28, 1813 in tème judiciaire sur la sexualité des femmes the Province of Nova Scotia where he grew de cette époque et le double standard qui leur up. He received a classical liberal education est appliqué, condamnant les prostituées et 1. One great-grandson was Roland Almon Ritchie, a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada from 7. Id.. p. 81 el suiv. 1959 to 1984. 8. Id.. pp. 323 et 324. 2. This book is the first volume from the Supreme 9. Id.. p. 166. Court of Canada Historical Society. 312 Les Cahiers de Droit (1993) 34 C. de D. 309 (Greek and Hebrew, logic, moral philosophy they produced twelve children, seven sons and natural philosophy) at the Pictou Acad and five daughters. emy from which he graduated in 1831. In November of 1865. W.J.R. became the W.J.R. then decided to study law in Hali Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New fax with his elder brother John William Rit Brunswick. W.J.R. was appointed to the chie3. W.J.R. became an attorney on May 2, Supreme Court of Canada in September 1836 and a barrister one year later. W.J.R. of 1875 and was one of two maritimers ap and John William left Halifax in 1837 to set up pointed to the court, the other being William 4 practice in Saint John. New Brunswick. At Alexander Henry of Nova Scotia . W.J.R. that time. Saint John was the third largest became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court city in British North America (after Montreal of Canada on January 11. 1879 after Sir Wil and Quebec) with a population of approxi liam Buell Richards retired. Prime Minister mately 12,000. Macdonald acknowledged, when appointing W.J.R. as Chief Justice, that the appoint During the first six months of his practice, ment was based on merit and not politics. He W.J.R. sat without a single client and after wrote : one year, he had only one case. He earned five pounds during his second year of prac Ritchie was an anti-confederate and a tice but eventually built up a very extensive strong one. but he is a good lawyer and and lucrative practice in Saint John, mostly makes a goodjudge [...] I am strongly of the opinion that the Supreme Court should be as a commercial lawyer. comprised of judges who have had judicial 5 In September of 1845 W.J.R. married training in courts of the first instance . Martha Strang, the daughter of an important W.J.R. presided over the destiny of the shipping merchant. The marriage took place Supreme Court of Canada for thirteen years. in Scotland, although the bride and groom He died on September 25, 1892 at the age of and most of the relatives lived in New Bruns seventy-nine, having sat as a judge for thirty- wick or in Nova Scotia. The Ritchie couple one years. had one son and one daughter but, unfortu Although the book purports to be a study nately, Mrs. Ritchie died in May of 1847, of W.J.R., it is. to a great extent, a study of a few months after giving birth to their the beginnings of the Supreme Court of Can daughter. W.J.R. was a widower at thirty- ada. In my view, this is what makes the book three. worth reading6. W.J.R. entered politics in 1842 when he The establishment of the Supreme Court contested the Saint John riding as a Liberal. of Canada began in 1868 with Sir John A. He lost the election but was elected in 1847. Macdonald. A draft bill appeared in 1867 As a politician, W.J.R. was a reformer from which was opposed on various grounds. The day one. On August 17, 1855, W.J.R. became draft was sent to judges and lawyers through a puisne judge of the Supreme Court of New out Canada for comments and criticism. Brunswick. This ended his political career. W.J.R., as Chief Justice of New Brunswick, His appointment was praised by his Liberal responded to the Prime Minister's request supporters but was received with contempt by his political foes who alleged that his ap pointment resulted from « dubious political dealings » between W.J.R. and the Attorney 4. The other appointees were Telesphore Four- nier. Jean Thomas Taschereau, Samuel Henry General of New Brunswick. Strong and William Buell Richards, the first Within a year of his appointment, W.J.R. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. married Grace Vernon Nicholson. Together 5. G. BALE. Chief Justice William Johnstone Rit chie : Responsible Government and Judicial Review. Ottawa. Carleton University Press. (Carleton Library Series, n" 165). 1991. p.