Charron, << shahr OHN, >> Louise (1951-…), served as a puisne (associate) justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 2004 to 2011. Prime Minister Paul Martin appointed her to the court. Prior to her appointment, Charron served on the Ontario Court of Appeal, Ontario’s highest court, and as a deputy judge to the Nunavut Court of Justice. As a judge, she had a reputation for being socially progressive.
Charron was born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, on March 2, 1951. She received a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Ottawa in 1975 and was admitted to the Ontario Bar—that is, the body of lawyers licensed to practice law in Ontario—in 1977.
During the late 1970’s, Charron worked for a private law firm. From 1980 to 1985, she served as an assistant crown attorney for the Ontario judicial district of Ottawa-Carleton. Crown attorneys represent the government in criminal cases.
Charron taught law at the University of Ottawa from 1985 to 1988. She served on the High Court of Ontario from 1988 to 1990, and on the Ontario Court of Justice from 1990 to 1995, when she was promoted to the Ontario Court of Appeal. From 1994 to 1996 and from 2003 to 2004, Charron was associate director of the National Judicial Institute, which fosters the independence of the courts from the other branches of government. In 1998, she served on the Ontario Police Commission, the agency responsible for the province’s police services.
See also Supreme Court of Canada .
