Charles Fitzpatrick

Sir Charles Fitzpatrick, GCMG, PC, QC ( born December 19, 1853 in Sainte -Foy- Sillery (now part of Quebec City ), † June 17, 1942 in Quebec ) was a Canadian judge, liberal politician and professor of criminal law. He was from 1902 to 1906 Minister of Justice and was then appointed Chairman of the Supreme Court. This office he held until 1918, after which he was until 1923 Vice- Governor of the Province of Quebec.

Biography

Fitzpatrick studied law at the Université de Laval, was admitted to the bar in 1876 and opened a law firm in Quebec City. In 1885, he gained national prominence when he led in the treason trial of Louis Riel, the leader of the North-West Rebellion, the defense. However, the death sentence against Riel and his execution he could not prevent. In 1890 he was elected to the provincial legislature of Quebec, six years later, the election was followed into the House.

Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier appointed Fitzpatrick initially as Vice- Minister of Justice ( solicitor - general) in the Federal Cabinet, from 1902 he was Minister of Justice ( attorney - general). At the suggestion Laurier, he was sworn in on June 4, 1906 as a member of the Supreme Court. He is the only next to William Buell Richards, who took over the chairmanship of the office immediately as Chief Justice. He resigned on October 20, 1918, after he had accepted the nomination as Vice- Governor of the Province of Quebec. This purely representative office he held until 31 October 1923. From 1905 to 1936 Fitzpatrick was also a professor of criminal law at the Université de Laval.