Lamer, << lah MAIR, >> Antonio (1933-2007), was chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1990 to 2000. He was appointed by the government headed by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Lamer had originally been appointed to the Supreme Court as a puisne (associate) judge by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau in 1980. As a puisne judge, Lamer gained a reputation as a legal reformer, especially in the field of criminal justice. He also took a liberal approach to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canada’s bill of rights.
Lamer was born on July 8, 1933, in Montreal, Quebec. In 1956, he earned a law degree from the University of Montreal. He became a lawyer in 1957. From 1967 to 1969, Lamer taught criminal law and criminology at the University of Montreal. In 1969, he was appointed to Quebec’s superior court. He became vice chairman of the Law Reform Commission of Canada in 1971 and chairman of the commission in 1976. In 1978, he was appointed to Quebec’s court of appeal. Lamer died on Nov. 24, 2007.
