Court of Appeal for Ontario

Court of Appeal for Ontario
Established 1867
Jurisdiction Ontario, Canada
Location Toronto
Authorized by Ontario Courts of Justice Act
Number of positions 24 (2 Presently Vacant)
Website [1]
Chief Justice
Currently Warren Winkler
Since June 1, 2007

The Court of Appeal for Ontario (frequently referred to as Ontario Court of Appeal or OCA) is headquartered in downtown Toronto, in historic Osgoode Hall.

The Court is composed of 24 judges who hear over 1,500 appeals each year, on issues of private law, constitutional law, criminal law, administrative law, and other matters. The Supreme Court of Canada hears appeals from less than 3% of the decisions of the Court of Appeal; in a very practical sense, the Court of Appeal is the last avenue of appeal for most litigants in Canada's most populous province.[1] Among the Court of Appeal's most notable decisions was a 2003 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in Ontario, making Canada the first jurisdiction in the world where same-sex marriage was legalized by a court ruling. Among many judges from the Court who have been elevated to the Supreme Court of Canada are Justices Rosalie Abella, Louise Arbour, Peter Cory, Louise Charron, Andromache Karakatsanis, Bora Laskin, Michael Moldaver and Bertha Wilson. Justice Bertha Wilson was the first female justice on both the Ontario Court of Appeal (1975) and the Supreme Court of Canada (1982).

The court derives its jurisdiction from Ontario's Courts of Justice Act.

Contents

Current Justices

Position Name Appointed Nominated by Position Prior to Appointment*
Chief Justice of Ontario Warren Winkler June 1, 2007 Harper Superior Court of Justice
Associate Chief Justice of Ontario Dennis O'Connor 1998/2001 Chretien Lawyer at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Justice Robert P. Armstrong January 25, 2002 Chretien Lawyer at Torys LLP
Justice Robert A. Blair November 5, 2003 Chretien Superior Court of Justice
Justice Eleanore A. Cronk July 31, 2001 Chretien Lawyer at Lax O'Sullivan Cronk LLP
Justice David H. Doherty September 1, 1990 Mulroney Superior Court of Justice
Justice Gloria J. Epstein October 12, 2007 Harper Superior Court of Justice
Justice Kathryn N. Feldman June 11, 1998 Chretien Superior Court of Justice
Justice Eileen E. Gillese 2002 Chretien Superior Court of Justice
Justice Stephen T. Goudge 1996 Chretien Lawyer at Gowling, Strathy & Henderson LLP
Justice Alexandra Hoy December 2, 2011 Harper Superior Court of Justice
Justice Russell G. Juriansz March 12, 2004 Martin Superior Court of Justice
Justice Harry S. Laforme November 2004 Martin Superior Court of Justice
Justice Susan E. Lang March 12, 2004 Martin Superior Court of Justice
Justice John I. Laskin January 1994 Chretien Lawyer at Davies Ward & Beck LLP
Justice Jean L. MacFarland (Supernumerary) November 19, 2004 Martin Superior Court of Justice
Justice James C. MacPherson 1999 Chretien Superior Court of Justice
Justice Marc Rosenberg December 1995 Chretien Assistant Deputy Attorney General
(Public Law and Policy Division and Civil Law Division)
Justice Paul Rouleau April 2005 Martin Superior Court of Justice
Justice Robert J. Sharpe 1999 Chretien Superior Court of Justice
Justice Janet M. Simmons August 2000 Chretien Superior Court of Justice
Justice David Watt October 12, 2007[2] Harper Superior Court of Justice
Justice Karen M. Weiler March 12, 1992 Mulroney Superior Court of Justice

Past Justices

Chief Justice of Upper Canada

See also

References

External links