The Hon. Claude Paris

Justice Claude Paris provides an extensive account of his legal career from articling in Ottawa through his historic 1980 appointment as a provincial court judge in Toronto. His career was shaped by his involvement in Franco-Ontarian affairs and advocacy for French language rights in the courts. Paris came from a large French-Catholic family in Ottawa’s Sandy Hill area and pursued common law at the University of Ottawa before practicing in his brother’s firm, specializing in real estate, commercial work, and credit unions.

Paris was appointed in September 1980 as the first judge designated to conduct French-language criminal trials in Ontario, following the 1979 decision to make French an official language of the courts. He describes the challenges of implementing bilingual trials, including the lack of French-speaking lawyers and court staff, and his role as the ‘travelling judge’ conducting French trials across Ontario. Paris discusses several notable cases, including the 1982 bathhouse raids, the Roch Thériault cult murder preliminary hearing, and various criminal matters that tested the new French-language court system.

As administrative judge at Old City Hall from 1993, Paris oversaw significant changes including the implementation of the Stinchcombe disclosure requirements and the creation of specialized courts for child witnesses and domestic violence cases. He reflects on the evolution of criminal law practice, particularly the impact of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on judgment writing and court procedures, and discusses his involvement with the Ontario Judicial Council. Throughout the interview, Paris emphasizes his satisfaction with his judicial career and his role in advancing French-language rights in Ontario’s justice system.

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