The Hon. Jean-Paul Michel

Justice Jean-Paul Michel (1938-) served as a Provincial Court judge in Ottawa from 1973 to 2002, specializing in family law and youth court matters. Born to a bilingual Franco-Ontarian family—his father served as Commissioner of Patents Canada—Michel attended the University of Ottawa Law School in its early years and was called to the bar in 1963. After nine years in private practice focusing on real estate law, he was approached by MPP Claude Bennett to consider a judicial appointment to address concerns about an overworked County Court judge.

Michel’s judicial career spanned significant changes in Canadian family law, from the Deserted Wives and Children’s Maintenance Act era through the introduction of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Young Offenders Act. Working under Chief Judge Ted Andrews, he handled child welfare cases, spousal support matters, youth court, and domestic violence cases. His interview provides detailed insights into the evolution of family courts in Ontario, including the challenges of inadequate clinical services, the impact of legal aid on case length, and the transition from the Juvenile Delinquents Act to modern youth justice. Michel particularly valued child welfare work despite its difficulty, believing judges could make a meaningful difference in children’s lives.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.