Moldaver << mohl DAY vuhr >>, Michael (1947-…), served as a puisne (associate) justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 2011 to 2022. Before being appointed to the Supreme Court, Moldaver had served on the Ontario Court of Appeal, Ontario’s highest law court, since 1995. Moldaver is an expert in criminal law.
Moldaver was born on Dec. 23, 1947, in Peterborough, Ontario. He received Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Toronto in 1968 and 1971, respectively. Moldaver was called to the Bar of Ontario—the body of lawyers licensed to practice law in Ontario—in 1973.
Moldaver practiced criminal law in the private sector for about 17 years. In 1985, he was named queen’s counsel, an honorary title awarded for contributions to the legal profession. The title changed to king’s counsel after Charles III succeeded Elizabeth II as the British monarch in 2022. In 1990, Moldaver was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario under the government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. The court later became the Superior Court of Justice. Moldaver was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1995 under the government of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
Before his appointment to the Court of Appeal, Moldaver taught law courses at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School, in Toronto; and at the University of Toronto Law School. He also has contributed to the legal profession as a speaker and instructor in continuing education programs for judges.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper nominated Moldaver to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2011. Moldaver retired from the court in 2022. Judges of the court must retire at the age of 75.
