News Release – August 26
Chief Justice George Strathy will be retiring on August 31, 2022. Chief Justice Strathy retires from his position as Chief Justice of Ontario and as a judge of the Court of Appeal for Ontario after having served as Chief Justice for eight years and as a trial and appellate judge for almost fifteen years.
He was appointed Chief Justice of Ontario on June 13, 2014, after having been a judge of the Court of Appeal for Ontario since April 25, 2013, and a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in the Toronto Region since December 13, 2007. Prior to his judicial career, he practiced civil litigation for over three decades, specializing in maritime and transportation law.
While Chief Justice, he promoted increased use of technology to modernize court procedures and oversaw the introduction of e-filing, remote video appearances, and the procurement and launch of one of Canada’s most advanced electronic court case management systems for the Court of Appeal.
He published and spoke frequently on the need to promote diversity in the legal profession. Working with legal organizations, he initiated and promoted conferences, working groups, and courses aimed at supporting diversity in the legal profession. In the later years of his judicial career, he wrote and spoke frequently about the need to address issues relating to mental health in the legal profession.
He has received honorary degrees from the Law Society of Ontario and Toronto Metropolitan University. He is a graduate of McGill University and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where he received the Gold Medal. He is the author of two books on maritime law and numerous articles and papers.
Chief Justice Strathy is married to Elyse Strathy. They have five daughters and twelve grandchildren.
The Chief Justice of Ontario is the most senior judge in the Province of Ontario and is the President of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. The Chief Justice of Ontario is appointed by the Government of Canada on the advice of Cabinet and the recommendation of Prime Minister of Canada.
For more information or media requests please contact: coa.executivelegalofficer@ontario.ca