Richard Wagner (judge)
{{Short description|Chief Justice of Canada since 2017}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox judge
| honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable
| name = Richard Wagner
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|size=100%}}
| image = The Honourable Richard Wagner.jpg
| alt = The Right Honourable Richard Wagner smiling.
| caption = Wagner in 2012
| office = 18th Chief Justice of Canada
| termstart = December 18, 2017
| termend =
| nominator = Justin Trudeau
| appointer = Julie Payette
| predecessor = Beverley McLachlin
| successor =
| office1 = Administrator of the Government of Canada
| termstart1 = January 22, 2021
| termend1 = July 26, 2021
| monarch1 = Elizabeth II
| primeminister1 = Justin Trudeau
| predecessor1 = {{nowrap|Julie Payette (as governor general)}}
| successor1 = Mary Simon (as governor general)
| office2 = Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
| termstart2 = October 5, 2012
| termend2 = December 18, 2017
| nominator2 = Stephen Harper
| appointer2 = David Johnston
| predecessor2 = Marie Deschamps
| successor2 = Sheilah Martin
| office3 = Puisne Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal
| termstart3 = February 3, 2011
| termend3 = October 5, 2012
| nominator3 = Stephen Harper
| appointer3 = David Johnston
| predecessor3 = Lise Côté
| successor3 = Dominique Bélanger
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|4|2|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = Catherine Mandeville
| father = Claude Wagner
| alma_mater = Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf (DEC)
University of Ottawa (BSocSc, LLL)
}}
Richard Wagner {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC}} ({{IPA|fr|vaɡnɛʁ}};{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziZipmsG6K8|title=Richard Wagner sworn in as Supreme Court chief justice|publisher=The Canadian Press|website=YouTube|access-date=January 25, 2021|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128063429/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziZipmsG6K8|url-status=live|time=0s, 18s, and 32s|language=en|date=Dec 19, 2017}} born April 2, 1957) is a Canadian jurist serving as the 18th and current Chief Justice of Canada since 2017. He previously served as a puisne justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal (2011–2012) and of the Supreme Court of Canada (2012–2017). For several months in 2021, following Julie Payette's resignation as Canada's governor general, Wagner was the administrator of the government of Canada as well as chief justice.
Early life
Wagner was born in Montreal, Quebec, to a French Canadian Catholic family as the son of Gisèle (née Normandeau) and Claude Wagner, a former member of Parliament and senator.Quebec Court of Appeal. [http://www.tribunaux.qc.ca/c-appel/Apropos/Juges/Biographies/WagnerR.html The Honourable Richard Wagner]. Retrieved October 2, 2012. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120619/http://www.tribunaux.qc.ca/c-appel/Apropos/Juges/Biographies/WagnerR.html|date=May 17, 2014}} He studied at the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montreal before receiving a bachelor of social science degree in political science from the University of Ottawa in 1978. He received his Licentiate in Law (LL.L.) – a Quebec Civil Law equivalent of the Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) – from the same institution in 1979.
Career
= Private practice and early judicial 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.
He was appointed to the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Montreal on September 24, 2004. On February 3, 2011, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal of Quebec.
=Supreme Court of Canada=
On October 2, 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper nominated him to the Supreme Court of Canada to replace retiring Justice Marie Deschamps.CBC News (October 2, 2012). [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/quebec-judge-richard-wagner-nominated-to-supreme-court-1.1139476 "Quebec judge Richard Wagner nominated to Supreme Court"] . Retrieved October 2, 2012. His appointment was confirmed on October 5, 2012.{{cite web|last=The Canadian Press|title=CBC News - MP questions 'introduce' Supreme Court nominee Wagner Montreal judge is Conservative government's 5th appointment|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mps-questions-introduce-supreme-court-nominee-wagner-1.1271554|work=CBC News|access-date=October 5, 2012|archive-date=December 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211031853/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/10/04/pol-scc-hearing-wagner-liveblog.html|url-status=live}}
On December 3, 2012, a ceremony was held for Wagner's appointment in the Supreme Court of Canada courtroom. The event was attended by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, the federal minister of justice and attorney general, Rob Nicholson, and the Quebec deputy minister of justice, Nathalie G. Drouin.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/supreme-court-welcomes-justice-wagner-to-bench-1.1286736|title=Supreme Court welcomes Justice Wagner to bench|publisher=CBC.ca|access-date=December 3, 2012|date=December 3, 2012|archive-date=December 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204091733/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/12/03/pol-scc-wagner-ceremony.html|url-status=live}}
On December 12, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Wagner as Beverly McLachlin's successor as chief justice of Canada.{{cite press release| title=Prime Minister names the Honourable Richard Wagner as new Chief Justice of Canada| url=https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/12/12/prime-minister-names-honourable-richard-wagner-new-chief-justice-canada| website=pm.gc.ca| publisher=PMO| access-date=December 12, 2017| language=en| date=December 12, 2017| archive-date=July 23, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723110727/https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/12/12/prime-minister-names-honourable-richard-wagner-new-chief-justice-canada| url-status=live}}{{cite press release| url=https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/news/en/item/5694/index.do| title=News Releases - SCC Cases (Lexum)| date=December 12, 2017| website=scc-csc.lexum.com| access-date=December 12, 2017| archive-date=December 12, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212153653/https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/news/en/item/5694/index.do| url-status=live}}
In 2023, Wagner was criticized for his handling of the complaint against puisne judge Russell Brown, which led to the latter's resignation. Brown's lawyer cast doubt on Wagner's assertion that Brown had agreed to step aside from the Court during the investigation.{{Cite news |last=Nardi |first=Christopher |date=June 15, 2023 |title=Lawyer appears to cast doubt on statement by Canada's chief justice about Russell Brown's resignation |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/statement-chief-justice-russell-brown-resignation |work=National Post}}
In 2024, Wagner was criticized by lawyers for having a bust of himself exhibited inside the Supreme Court building. The court refused to disclose the identity of the person who paid for the bust, which raised concerns about the court's transparency.{{Cite news |last=Nardi |first=Christopher |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Supreme Court won't disclose mysterious donor behind expensive gift for chief justice |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/supreme-court-wont-say-who-paid-for-bust-of-chief-justice |work=National Post}} Some also said that it was improper for a sitting judge to have a bust of himself exhibited publicly.
Wagner was also criticized for excessive foreign travel as chief justice, as well as overstepping the court's constitutional role.{{Cite news |last=Selley |first=Chris |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Chris Selley: Canada's Supreme Court justices gone wild |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/supreme-court-justices-gone-wild |work=National Post}}
= Administrator of Canada =
On January 23, 2021, Wagner became Administrator of the Government of Canada following Governor General Julie Payette's resignation in response to a workplace harassment investigation. By virtue of royal letters patent issued in 1947, the chief justice of Canada is the ex officio principal deputy to the governor general, and may act as governor general when the office is vacant.{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Ashley |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Payette stepping down as governor general after blistering report on Rideau Hall work environment |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-payette-step-down-1.5882675 |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121203733/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-payette-step-down-1.5882675 |url-status=live }}{{cite tweet|number=1353765957462876160|user=btaplatt|title=For clarity's sake, I asked PCO to confirm Payette is fully and completely out of the role and that CJ Richard Wagner has been sworn in as administrator. PCO confirms that's the case, says Wagner was sworn in on Saturday, Jan. 23. https://t.co/hZW2cv66b4|date=January 25, 2021|access-date=June 14, 2021|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125180633/https://twitter.com/btaplatt/status/1353765957462876160|archive-date=January 25, 2021|url-status=live|last=Platt|first=Brian}} Only justices of the Supreme Court of Canada are authorized to perform federal viceregal duties on an acting basis. He ceased to hold office as administrator on July 26, 2021, following Mary Simon's appointment as governor general.{{cite news |author=Graham Slaughter |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Canada's top judge is now Governor General, but expert urges speedy replacement |publisher=CTVNEWS |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-s-top-judge-is-now-governor-general-but-expert-urges-speedy-replacement-1.5277421 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122143042/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-s-top-judge-is-now-governor-general-but-expert-urges-speedy-replacement-1.5277421 |url-status=live }} Serving for six months, Wagner was the longest-serving administrator of Canada in history.John Paul Tasker, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/chief-justice-still-acting-gg-six-months-later-1.6069344 "Six months after former GG Payette's resignation, chief justice still juggling two jobs"], CBC News, June 17, 2021.
Personal life
Wagner is a Roman Catholic."Richard Wagner". Canadian Who's Who 2014-2015. Toronto: Third Sector Publishing, 2015. 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.{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/12/justin-trudeau-names-richard-wagner-new-chief-justice-of-canada.html| title=Justin Trudeau names Richard Wagner new Chief Justice of Canada| date=December 12, 2017| first=Tonda| last=MacCharles| work=Toronto Star| access-date=December 12, 2017| archive-date=December 12, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212170415/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/12/justin-trudeau-names-richard-wagner-new-chief-justice-of-canada.html| url-status=live}}
Honours
= Coat of arms =
{{Infobox COA wide|name=Richard Wagner|year_granted=2024{{Cite web |title=Richard Wagner |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/3663?fbclid=IwY2xjawHgz71leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVxpE8iFAXgMwhKQ3fJQz4ZKgyovxNh6aIemMkAsYWuTcnS6G8wGtqLwFQ_aem_mnGFXTaCl76N913NVqatOA |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=The Governor General of Canada |language=en}}|armiger=Richard Wagner|crest=An eagle lectern of two heads Gules beaked and embellished Or;|escutcheon=Per pale Gules and Azure an escarbuncle of six rays Argent surmounted by a rose Or barbed Vert;|supporters=Two rams Argent accorné and unguled Or, each holding a violin|compartment=A field set with tulips and linden leaves proper in front of a crenellated wall Or;|motto={{lang|fr|Le passé inspire l'avenir}}|symbolism=Red and blue, representing Canada and Quebec respectively, symbolize equity and justice for Chief Justice Wagner, with the balanced colors reflecting these ideals. The escarbuncle references his name, derived from a wheelwright, and as an ancient heraldic symbol, it highlights his work in strengthening legal protections. Its spokes represent his diverse legal specialties and affiliations, emphasizing the breadth of his career and commitment to inclusion, diversity, and access to justice. The rose honors his parents, while the lectern, combining the lawyer's stand and the eagle's keen eye, symbolizes his advocacy skills, balance, and European and Canadian heritage. The French motto, “The past inspires the future,” underscores his focus on history’s lessons to build a more inclusive society and honors his father’s public service. Additional symbols—the ram for determination, the violin for musical heritage, the wall for justice’s strength, the tulip for Ottawa’s emblem, and the linden leaf for love and relaxation—capture Chief Justice Wagner’s personal and professional legacy.|image=Coat of Arms of Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada.png|imagesize=150px}}
=Scholastic=
;Honorary degrees
| class="wikitable"
! style="width:15%;"| Location ! style="width:15%;"| Date ! style="width:40%;"| School ! style="width:15%;"| Degree ! style="width:15%;"| Gave Commencement Address | ||||
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} | June 19, 2019 | University of Ottawa | Doctorate | Yes{{Cite web |title=WAGNER, Richard |url=https://www.uottawa.ca/president/bio/wagner-richard |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815070411/https://www.uottawa.ca/president/bio/wagner-richard |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2021 |website=Office of the President}} |
| {{Flagu|Ontario}}
|June 14, 2023 |Doctorate |No |
{{Expand list|date=November 2020}}
=Memberships and fellowships=
{{Expand list|date=November 2020}}
See also
References
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{{s-bef|before=Mark Carney|as=Prime Minister}}
{{s-ttl|title=Order of Precedence of Canada
{{small|as Chief Justice}}|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=Edward Schreyer|as=Former Governor General}}
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{{CanadaCJs}}
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{{FederalCourtsOfCanada}}
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Category:University of Ottawa alumni
Category:Lawyers from Montreal
Category:Canadian people of German-Jewish descent
Category:Canadian Roman Catholics
Category:University of Ottawa Faculty of Law alumni
Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada