John Thomas Hackett

The Hon.
John Thomas Hackett
Q.C.
Senator for Victoria, Quebec
In office
July 28, 1955 – September 15, 1956
Appointed by Louis St. Laurent
Preceded by William James Hushion
Succeeded by Josie Alice Quart
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Stanstead
In office
1930–1935
Preceded by Willis Keith Baldwin
Succeeded by Robert Greig Davidson
In office
1945–1949
Preceded by Joseph-Armand Choquette
Succeeded by Louis-Édouard Roberge
19th President of the Canadian Bar Association
In office
1947–1948
Preceded by James Chalmers McRuer
Succeeded by Stanley Harwood McCuaig, C.M., Q.C., B.A., LL.D.
Personal details
Born June 12, 1884
Stanstead, Quebec
Died September 15, 1956 (aged 72)
Political party Conservative
Progressive Conservative
Spouse(s) Linda Harding
Relations Michael Felix Hackett (father)
Alma mater St. Charles Seminary; McGill Law School
Profession Lawyer

John Thomas Hackett, Q.C., (June 12, 1884 – September 15, 1956) was a lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Stanstead in the Canadian House of Commons from 1930 to 1935 and from 1945 to 1949 as a Conservative and then as a Progressive Conservative member. He sat for the Victoria division in the Senate of Canada from 1955 to 1956.

He was born in Stanstead, Quebec, the son of Michael Felix Hackett and Florence Alberta Knight, and was educated at St. Charles Seminary and the law school at McGill University. In 1912, he married Linda Harding. Hackett served as a member of the board of governors for McGill University. He was Batonnier of the Bar Association of Montreal and also President of the Canadian Bar Association, from 1947 to 1948.[1] He was also president of the Stanstead County Historical Society and a lieutenant in the militia.

In 1948, while serving as the President of the Canadian Bar Association and MP for Stanstead, Hackett spoke in the House of Commons against a proposal that the position of chief commissioner of the Board of Transport Commissioners be designated as open only to a judge of the Exchequer Court of Canada. Hackett was concerned that the proposal would blur the lines between the quasi-political and policy role of the Board, compared to the traditional neutrality of judges, and could undermine popular respect for the judiciary as neutral arbiters.[2]

Hackett died in office at the age of 72.

References

  1. ↑ Canadian Bar Association: Past CBA Presidents
  2. ↑ Ian Bushnell, The Federal Court of Canada: A History, 1875-1992 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1997), p. 126.

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