Ottawa, November 27 2024

The Canadian Judicial Council notes with sadness the passing of the Honourable Richard Scott

Ottawa, November 27, 2024 – Members of the Canadian Judicial Council were saddened to hear of the passing of their former colleague, the Honourable Richard Scott, who was a valued member of the Council for 27 years.  Chief Justice Scott was one of Council's longest serving members.

The Honourable Richard Scott became a member of the Council upon his appointment in 1985 as Associate Chief Justice of the then Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, and served with distinction until his retirement as Chief Justice of the Manitoba Court of Appeal in 2013. During his time on the Council, Chief Justice Scott was active on several committees including the Executive Committee, the Judicial Conduct Committee, and the Judicial Independence Committee. Of note, Chief Justice Scott sat on the Judicial Conduct Committee for 14 years, eleven of which as Chair, where he worked tirelessly on judicial conduct matters, reviewing cases and leading changes to the Council’s procedures and bylaws. He also served as Vice-Chair of the Council between 2005 and 2012. Following his retirement as Chief Justice, he was appointed in 2016 as a member of the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments.

“Chief Justice Scott helped shape the Canadian Judicial Council during his tenure. In addition to being a rallying force and consensus builder, he was also one of the catalysts behind The Way Forward, a roadmap adopted by the Council to rethink and renew itself in 2022. Council will forever be grateful for his innumerable contributions,” noted Chief Justice of Canada and Council Chairperson, the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C.

On behalf of all its members, Council extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Chief Justice Scott.

About the Canadian Judicial Council

The Council was created in 1971 by the Canadian Parliament to maintain and improve the quality of judicial services in Canada's superior courts. It has the power and duty to investigate complaints into the conduct of federally appointed judges. The Council is also responsible for the continuing education of judges, as well as for developing other tools and programs to maintain public confidence in the judicial system.

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Contact :
Krista Ferraro
Director of Communications and Strategic Issues Management
Canadian Judicial Council
info@cjc-ccm.ca 

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