Clément Gascon

Clément Gascon
CC KC
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
In office
June 9, 2014 – September 15, 2019
Nominated byStephen Harper
Preceded byMorris Fish
Succeeded byNicholas Kasirer
Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal
In office
2012–2014
Justice of the Quebec Superior Court
In office
2002–2012
Personal details
Born (1960-02-05) February 5, 1960 (age 64)
Montreal, Quebec
Alma materCollège Jean-de-Brébeuf (DEC 1978)
McGill University (BCL 1981)
Professioncivil and commercial lawyer, judge

Clément Gascon CC KC (born September 5, 1960) is a Canadian jurist, who was nominated to the Supreme Court of Canada by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on June 3, 2014,[1] and officially appointed the Court on June 9, 2014.[2] He officially retired from the court on September 15, 2019.

Born in 1960 to Dr. Bernard Gascon and Denyse Clément, Gascon graduated from Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and McGill University.[3]

Gascon was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1982 and in addition to his legal practice (in business, labour and construction law) was also a lecturer at Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Université du Québec à Montreal, McGill University and Bar of Quebec.[3]

Prior to his Supreme Court appointment, Gascon served on the Quebec Superior Court from 2002 to 2012, and the Quebec Court of Appeal from 2012 to 2014.[4] He was previously a lawyer for the Montreal law firm Heenan Blaikie for 21 years.[5]

In June 2018, Gascon wrote for the majority of the court when it found that the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal's determination that the Indian Act did not violate the Canadian Human Rights Act was reasonable. Three concurring justices instead argued that this context was not due judicial deference and instead required review for correctness.[6]

On April 15, 2019, Gascon announced that he would be retiring effective September 15, 2019.[7]

On the evening of May 8, 2019, the Ottawa Police Service issued a notice asking for the public's help in locating Gascon, who had not been seen since early the same afternoon. Shortly afterwards, they announced that he had been located safely.[8][9] Gascon later announced he had had a panic attack, related in part to his recent decision to retire early from the Court.[10][11]

Garcon was appointed to the Order of Canada in June 2023, with the rank of Companion.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Harper names Justice Gascon to Supreme Court". The Gazette, June 3, 2014.
  2. ^ "Biography - Clément Gascon". Supreme Court of Canada. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Court of Appeal of Quebec: Current Judges". Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  4. ^ "Deux excellentes nominations à la Cour d’appel" Archived June 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. La Presse, April 16, 2012.
  5. ^ Hough, Jennifer (June 3, 2014). "Clement Gascon a Quebec Court of Appeal Judge Nominated to Supreme Court". National Post. Canada: Postmedia. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  6. ^ Note, Recent Case: Supreme Court of Canada Clarifies Standard of Review Framework, 132 Harv. L. Rev. 1772 (2019).
  7. ^ Zimonjic, Peter (April 15, 2019). "Supreme Court Justice Clement Gascon announces retirement". CBC News. Canada. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  8. ^ Zimonjic, Peter (May 8, 2019). "Supreme Court Justice Clément Gascon has been safely found, police say". CBC News. Canada. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  9. ^ Egan, Kelly (May 9, 2019). "Police locate Supreme Court Justice after concern expressed for his well-being". Ottawa Citizen. Canada. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  10. ^ Zimonjic, Peter (May 14, 2019). "Supreme Court Justice Gascon attributes disappearance to depression, anxiety". CBC News. Canada. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  11. ^ CTV News (May 14, 2019). "SCC Justice Clement Gascon cites mental illness as reason for disappearance". CTV News. Canada. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  12. ^ "Order of Canada appointees – June 2023". The Governor General of Canada. June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.