Master David Sandler

Master David Sandler provides a comprehensive overview of his judicial career and the evolution of the Masters’ role in Ontario’s court system. Born in Toronto in 1940 to Lithuanian Jewish immigrants, Sandler articled at Day, Wilson & Campbell from 1964-66 before developing expertise in civil procedure. He taught at the Bar Admission Course for sixteen years and eventually became a Master, focusing on practice and procedure matters rather than substantive determinations.

Sandler extensively discusses the constitutional challenges facing Masters, particularly the Aylesworth case which incorrectly characterized their role as administrative rather than judicial. He explains how Masters perform true judicial functions within their jurisdiction and details the formation of the Masters’ Association around 1980 to advocate for professional recognition and benefits. The interview covers significant court system changes including the 1990s restructuring that merged courts and eventually phased out traditional Masters positions, replacing them with case management Masters. Sandler also addresses salary negotiations, relationships with other judicial bodies, and the ongoing challenges of workload management in the evolving court system.

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