LogoutThe Hon. Douglas Latimer
This oral history interview with Judge Douglas Latimer, conducted on March 31, 1995, chronicles his distinguished legal career spanning private practice, Crown attorney work, and the provincial court judiciary. The interview covers Latimer’s appointment to the Provincial Court Criminal Division on June 1, 1972, and provides insights into the structure and evolution of Ontario’s court system during a period of significant reform.
Latimer discusses the court’s organizational structure, including the two main divisions (criminal and family), Attorney General Roy McMurtry’s role in establishing a civil division, and the subsequent amalgamation into the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Division. The interview extensively covers judicial administration, including the evolution of judicial oversight committees, particularly the Judicial Committee that handles complaints against judges, and the reforms that allowed for intermediate disciplinary measures beyond simple dismissal or formal inquiry. Key figures mentioned include Chief Judges Kline and Fred Hayes, and the discussion touches on various aspects of court administration, judicial independence, and the challenges facing the provincial court system during this transformative period in Ontario’s legal history.
This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.
References
The following are a selection of topics discussed in this oral history.
- Civil Division
- Court of Appeal
- Criminal Division
- Family Court
- Family Division
- High Court
- Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Division
- Provincial Courts
- Small Claims Court
- American Law School
- Osgoode Hall Law School
- U. of T.
- Attorney General
- Corrections
- Crown
- Department of Community and Social Services
- Ministry
- Queen's Park
- Amalgamation of court divisions
- Court Restructuring
- Great Depression
- Martin Report
- Barrie
- British Columbia
- Georgetown
- Guelph
- Halton
- Kingston
- Kitchener
- London
- North York
- Ontario
- Ottawa
- Peterborough
- Quebec
- Thunder Bay
- Toronto
- Windsor
- Dale & Bennett
- Reichuck case
- Judge
- Ontario Court of Justice
- Charlie Scullion
- Chief Judge Fred Hayes
- Chief Judge Kline
- Clare Lewis
- Colonel Merridew
- Doug Walker
- Douglas Latimer
- Glen Montgomery
- Henry Bull
- Ian Scott
- Judge Batten
- Judge Bordeleau
- Judge Ebbs
- Judge Hutton
- Judge Langdon
- Judge Linden
- Judge Riley
- Judge Scullion
- Judge Sharpe
- Judy Ryan
- Kenneth Gariepy
- Marietta Roberts
- Roger Clark
- Roy McMurtry
- Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges
- Crown Attorneys Association
- Judicial Education Committee
- Law Society
- Provincial Court Judges Association
- St. Leonard's Society
- 1940s
- 1950s
- 1960s
- 1970s
- 1980s
- 1990s
- Charter of Rights
- Court Administration
- Court Rules
- court structure
- criminal work
- disclosure policy
- judicial complaints
- Judicial Discipline
- Judicial Independence
- judicial stress
- Plea Bargaining
- Preliminary Hearings
- Sentencing Law
- sexual assault cases
- Young Offenders Act
Some of these references were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Archive Details
File consists of oral history records documenting the life and career of Douglas Latimer (b. 1929), a Toronto- area lawyer who was appointed provincial court judge in 1972. Interview topics include: Osgoode Hall Law School; appointed Provincial Court Judge, 1972; other judges in court; changes in court structure; Provincial Court Judges Association; Young Offenders Act; Secretary, Provincial Court Judges Association. Interviewer unknown. File includes five audio cassette recordings from a series of two interviews and a transcript with index (184 p.).