Dickson, Brian (1916-1998), served as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1984 to 1990. He was appointed by the government headed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and had served as a puisne (associate) judge of the court since 1973. On constitutional issues, he showed concern for maintaining a well-balanced federal system in Canada.
Robert George Brian Dickson was born on May 25, 1916, in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He earned a law degree from the University of Manitoba. During World War II, he served in Europe with the Royal Canadian Artillery from 1940 to 1945. He lost most of his right leg in battle. After the war, Dickson practiced law in Winnipeg. He was appointed to the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench in 1963 and to the Manitoba Court of Appeal in 1967.
Under Dickson, the Supreme Court decided the first cases on the basis of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This bill of rights took effect in 1982. As chief justice, Dickson took a liberal approach. In 1988, he was among the five-judge majority that rejected Canada’s restrictive abortion law. Dickson died on Oct. 17, 1998.
