Richard Wagner (judge)

Richard Wagner PC (French pronunciation: ​[vɑɡnɛːʁ] vahg-NAIR;[2] born April 2, 1957) is a Canadian jurist who serves as the 18th and current chief justice of Canada. He was sworn in as chief justice on December 18, 2017, having previously served as a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

His Excellency the Right Honourable Richard Wagner PC
Wagner in 2012
Administrator of the Government of Canada
Incumbent
Assumed office January 23, 2021
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Julie Payette as Governor General
18th Chief Justice of Canada
Incumbent
Assumed office December 18, 2017
Nominated by	Justin Trudeau
Appointed by	Julie Payette
Preceded by	Beverley McLachlin
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
In office October 5, 2012 – December 18, 2017
Nominated by	Stephen Harper
Appointed by	David Johnston
Preceded by	Marie Deschamps
Succeeded by	Sheilah Martin
Puisne Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal
In office February 3, 2011 – October 5, 2012
Nominated by	Stephen Harper
Appointed by	David Johnston
Preceded by	Lise Côté
Succeeded by	Dominique Bélanger
Personal details
Born	April 2, 1957 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Spouse(s)	Catherine Mandeville
Children	2[1]
Father	Claude Wagner
Alma mater	University of Ottawa (BSocSc, LLL)

On January 23, 2021, Wagner assumed the role of administrator of the Government of Canada, following a workplace review of Rideau Hall and the resignation of Julie Payette as governor general of Canada, pending the appointment of a new governor general.[3][4]

Early life

Wagner was born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Gisèle (née Normandeau) and Claude Wagner, a former member of Parliament and senator.[5] He studied at the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montreal before receiving his bachelor of social science in political science from the University of Ottawa in 1978. He received his LL.L. from the same institution in 1979.[5]

Career

In 1980, Wagner was called to the Quebec Bar, and began practice at the Montreal law firm Lavery, de Billy (formerly Lavery, O'Brien and Lavery, Johnston, Clark, Carrière, Mason & Associés). His practice centred on real estate, commercial litigation and professional liability insurance.[5]

He was appointed to the Quebec Superior Court for the district of Montreal on September 24, 2004. On February 3, 2011, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal of Quebec.

On October 2, 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper nominated him to the Supreme Court of Canada to replace retiring Justice Marie Deschamps.[6] His appointment was confirmed on October 5, 2012.[7]

On December 3, 2012, a ceremony was held for Wagner's appointment in the Supreme Court of Canada courtroom. The event was attended by outgoing chief justice Beverley McLachlin, the federal minister of justice and attorney general, Rob Nicholson and the Quebec deputy minister of justice, Nathalie G. Drouin.[8]

On December 12, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nominated Wagner as Beverly McLachlin's successor as chief justice of Canada.[9][10]

On January 23, 2021, Wagner became Administrator of Canada following the resignation of Governor General Julie Payette in response to a workplace harassment investigation. The chief justice of Canada is the deputy governor general, and can act as governor general when the office is vacant.[11][4]

Personal life

Wagner is a Roman Catholic.[12] Wagner's father Claude was also a jurist. His grandfather was a German Jewish immigrant originally from Bavaria. Wagner has two children who are also lawyers.[1]

Honours

Commonwealth honours

Country	Date	Appointment	Post-nominal letters
Canada	December 18, 2017 – present	Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada	PC

Scholastic

Honorary degrees

Location	Date	School	Degree	Gave Commencement Address
Ontario	June 19, 2019	University of Ottawa	Doctorate	Yes [13]

Memberships and fellowships

Country	Date	Organization	Position
United States of America		American College of Trial Lawyers	Honorary Fellow [14]

See also

• Reasons of the Supreme Court of Canada by Justice Wagner

References

1. MacCharles, Tonda (December 12, 2017). "Justin Trudeau names Richard Wagner new Chief Justice of Canada". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
2. "Richard Wagner sworn in as Supreme Court chief justice - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
3. Graham Slaughter (January 21, 2021). "Canada's top judge is now Governor General, but expert urges speedy replacement". CTVNEWS.
4. https://twitter.com/btaplatt/status/1353765957462876160
5. Quebec Court of Appeal. The Honourable Richard Wagner. Retrieved October 2, 2012. Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
6. CBC News (October 2, 2012). "Quebec judge Richard Wagner nominated to Supreme Court" Archived October 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
7. The Canadian Press. "CBC News - MP questions 'introduce' Supreme Court nominee Wagner Montreal judge is Conservative government's 5th appointment". CBC News. CBC News. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
8. "Supreme Court welcomes Justice Wagner to bench". CBC.ca. December 3, 2012. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
9. "Prime Minister names the Honourable Richard Wagner as new Chief Justice of Canada". pm.gc.ca (Press release). PMO. December 12, 2017. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
10. "News Releases - SCC Cases (Lexum)". scc-csc.lexum.com (Press release). December 12, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
11. Burke, Ashley (January 21, 2021). "Payette stepping down as governor general after blistering report on Rideau Hall work environment". CBC News. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
12. "Richard Wagner". Canadian Who's Who 2014-2015. Toronto: Third Sector Publishing, 2015.
13. "WAGNER, Richard". Office of the President. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
14. "Honorary Fellows". www.actl.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.