Wagner, Richard (1957-…), became chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada in 2017. He was appointed by the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Wagner had served on the court as a puisne (associate) judge since 2012.
Wagner was born on April 2, 1957, in Montreal, Quebec. His father, Claude Wagner, was a lawyer who served as justice minister of Quebec and as a member of the federal Parliament. In 1978, Richard Wagner received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Ottawa. The following year, he received a law degree from the university’s Faculty of Law. Wagner was admitted to the Bar of Quebec (body of lawyers licensed to practice law in Quebec) in 1980.
From 1980 to 2004, Wagner worked as a partner in the law firm of Lavery, de Billy, L.L.P., in Montreal. He specialized in civil and commercial law. During this time, Wagner held a number of administrative positions in the Canadian Bar Association. He also served on committees of the bars of Montreal and Quebec and taught at the School of the Bar of Quebec. In 2001, Wagner helped create the Legal Information Center, a Quebec-based supplier of legal information. He was vice president of the center and served on its board of directors until 2004.
The government of Prime Minister Paul Martin appointed Wagner to the Superior Court of Quebec in 2004. In 2005, Wagner received the Quebec Bar Award of Merit for his accomplishments. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government appointed Wagner to the Quebec Court of Appeal in February 2011 and to the Supreme Court of Canada on Oct. 5, 2012.
See also Supreme Court of Canada .
