Thibaudeau Rinfret PC (June 22, 1879 – July 25, 1962) was a Canadian jurist who served as the ninth Chief Justice of Canada from 1944 to 1954 and briefly as Administrator of Canada from January to February 1952. He also served as a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1924 to 1944.
Thibaudeau Rinfret | |
|---|---|
 Justice Rinfret, c. 1950 | |
| 9th Chief Justice of Canada | |
| In office January 8, 1944 – June 22, 1954 | |
| Nominated by | William Lyon Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Lyman Poore Duff |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Kerwin |
| Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada | |
| In office October 1, 1924 – January 8, 1944 | |
| Nominated by | William Lyon Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Arthur Malouin |
| Succeeded by | Roy Kellock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 22, 1879 Montreal, Quebec |
| Died | July 25, 1962 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Relations | Fernand Rinfret, brother Charles Rinfret, brother |
| Alma mater | Université Laval à Montréal, Faculté de droit and McGill University |
| Occupation | Lawyer, jurist |
Early life
editRinfret was born in Montreal in 1879, the son of François-Olivier Rinfret and Albina Pominville.[1] He was the brother of Fernand Rinfret, Liberal politician who became Mayor of Montreal, and brother of Charles Rinfret, a prominent Montreal businessman.[2]
Professional career
editRinfret studied law at the Université Laval à Montréal, Faculté de droit and McGill University and was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1901. He was appointed to the Quebec Superior Court in 1922 and to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1924.[1]
Rinfret became Chief Justice on January 8, 1944, and served until his retirement on June 22, 1954.[1] During his term as Chief Justice, Canada ended appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council making the Supreme Court of Canada the final court of appeal in Canadian jurisprudence.[3]
Rinfret was Administrator of the Government in 1952 after the departure of Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, and until Vincent Massey could officially be sworn in as Governor General of Canada. During this time he proclaimed Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada, following the death of King George VI.
Personal life
editRinfret's son was the Quebec politician and judge Édouard Rinfret.[citation needed]
Electoral record
edit| 1908 Canadian federal election: Terrebonne | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Conservative | Wilfrid Bruno Nantel | 2,592 | 50.8 | +2.7 | ||||
| Liberal | Thibaudeau Rinfret | 2,513 | 49.2 | -2.7 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 5,105 | 100.0 | ||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c Canada, Supreme Court of; Canada, Public Works and Government Services (November 1, 2000). The Supreme Court of Canada and its Justices 1875-2000: La Cour suprême du Canada et ses juges 1875-2000 (in French). Dundurn. ISBN 9781770700956.
- ^ "Rinfret, Fernand", by Benoit Langval, Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. XVI (1931–1940).
- ^ Supreme Court Amendment Act, S.C. 1949 (2nd. session), c. 37, s. 3.