The Hon. Arthur Kelly

This comprehensive oral history interview with Justice Arthur Kelly covers his remarkable legal career spanning from the 1920s through his retirement from the Ontario Court of Appeal. Kelly discusses his early life as the son of a High Court judge, his education at St. Michael’s College and the University of Toronto, and his articling experiences at prominent Toronto law firms including Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt and with litigation specialist T.N. Phelan.

Kelly’s practice years were marked by significant contributions to legal education and professional organizations. He played a crucial role in developing the Bar Admission Course and practice groups during the 1940s when traditional articling was proving inadequate for post-war student numbers. His involvement with the Canadian Bar Association culminated in his presidency in 1957, and he served as a Governor of the University of Toronto for over 25 years. Kelly also handled major legal matters including the liquidation of the Home Bank of Canada and pioneered the creation of the Toronto and Suburban Separate School Board Act of 1941.

Appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1960, Kelly provides detailed insights into the Court’s operations, his judicial colleagues, and the evolution of appellate practice. He describes the administrative improvements made under Chief Justice Porter and offers candid assessments of fellow judges including Justices Laidlaw, Aylesworth, Roach, and others. The interview concludes with his discussion of serving on the Windfall Oil and Mines Royal Commission, highlighting the intersection between judicial service and public inquiries in mid-20th century Ontario legal practice.

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