Mr. Louis Tepper

This oral history interview with Louis Tepper provides a comprehensive look at his legal career in Kingston, Ontario, from 1957 to 1997. Tepper discusses his early inspiration to become a lawyer after meeting his father’s attorney as a child, his education at Queen’s University and the University of Toronto Law School, and his decision to establish a sole practice in Kingston rather than join an established firm.

Throughout the interview, Tepper recounts numerous criminal cases that defined his practice, including his first Supreme Court case involving Hebert McEwen (a farmhand who shot his employer), the Kingston Penitentiary riots, and various cases involving inmates and guards. He also handled civil matters including personal injury cases, divorces, and commercial litigation. His practice was notably diverse, handling everything from petty theft to serious criminal charges, with many cases involving clients from Kingston’s multiple penitentiaries.

Tepper provides valuable insights into the Kingston legal community of the mid-20th century, describing the courthouse, local judges, Crown attorneys, and fellow practitioners. He reflects on the evolution of legal practice, the introduction of Legal Aid, and the growth of Kingston’s legal community, particularly after Queen’s Law School was established. The interview concludes with his thoughts on retirement and his preference for helping clients rather than judging them from the bench.

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