LogoutThe Hon. Gerald Lapkin
This oral history interview covers the distinguished legal career of Justice Gerald Stanley Lapkin, born in Toronto in 1944 to Polish immigrant parents. After completing his education at University of Toronto Law School and obtaining an LL.M. from University of Michigan, Lapkin practiced criminal law with the prestigious firm Humphrey, Locke, Eccelstone & Kane before becoming Assistant Crown Attorney in Toronto in 1976, eventually rising to Deputy Crown Attorney for Metro West in 1987.
In 1988, Lapkin received a groundbreaking dual appointment as both Provincial Judge and Senior Judge, specifically tasked with leading the transformation of Ontario’s Justice of the Peace system. As Co-Ordinator of Justices of the Peace from 1988-1995, he traveled extensively across Ontario, implementing new legislation, establishing education programs, and creating independent appointment processes. His work involved interviewing hundreds of Justices of the Peace and establishing professional standards for the system. Throughout his career, Lapkin was also involved in teaching at various institutions and served in multiple administrative roles, including Police Complaints Commissioner, making significant contributions to Ontario’s legal system reform.
This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.
References
The following are a selection of topics discussed in this oral history.
- County Courts
- Court of Appeal
- District Court
- Etobicoke Court
- Old City Hall Courts
- Provincial Courts
- Superior Court of Justice
- Osgoode
- University of Michigan Law School
- University of Toronto Law School
- Crown Attorney's Office
- Justice of the Peace Review Council
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of the Attorney General
- Ontario Police Complaints Commission
- 1970 Kingston Riot
- Charter of Rights implementation
- Chicago Seven Trial
- FLQ Crisis
- Second World War
- War Measures Act
- Etobicoke
- Judicial District of York
- Kingston
- Metro West
- North York
- Ontario
- Scarborough
- Toronto
- York Township
- Campbell, Godfrey & Lewtas
- Humphrey, Locke, Eccelstone & Kane
- Blackburn v. Lapkin
- Chapman and Grange
- Kingston Riot case
- Judge
- Ontario Court of Justice
- Alan Mewett
- Arthur Maloney
- Arthur Martin
- Bill Rogers
- Bora Laskin
- Cecil Wright
- Claude Thomson
- Dave Humphrey
- Deborah Lapkin
- Ed Ratushny
- Faye Lapkin
- Fred Hayes
- Gerald Lapkin
- Gerry Israel
- Gord Ecclestone
- Harold Rice
- Harry Lapkin
- Howard Hampton
- Hugh Locke
- Ian Scott
- Jane Fonda
- Jerry Wylie
- Joe Kane
- Joe Salsberg
- John Edwards
- John Hogarth
- Judge Wren
- Marion Boyd
- Oscar Peterson
- Peter Rickaby
- Prince Philip
- Real Caouette
- Roy McMurtry
- Sharon Lapkin
- Shelley Howell
- Sid Linden
- Tony Doob
- Canadian Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement
- Centre of Criminology
- Chief Justice's Executive Committee
- Criminal Lawyers Association
- Law Society of Ontario
- 1960s
- 1970s
- 1980s
- 1990s
- appointment processes
- Bail
- Case Management
- Criminal Law
- Dangerous Offender Applications
- Disclosure Law
- education programs
- Evidence
- expanded challenge for cause
- joint submissions
- juries
- Justice of the Peace system reform
- Legal Aid
- Plea Bargaining
- Preliminary Hearings
- pretrials
- Seditious Speech
- Sentencing Law
- Victim Impact Statements
- Wiretap Authorization
Some of these references were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Archive Details
File consists of oral history records documenting the life and career of Gerald Lapkin (b. 1944), Assistant Crown Attorney, Judicial District of York (1976-), Deputy Crown, Metro West (1987-) and Police Complaints Commissioner (1995-). Interview topics include: family background; University of Toronto law school (1965-); early career; Assistant Crown Attorney, Judicial District of York (1976-); Deputy Crown, Metro West (1987-); Co-ordinator of Justices for the Peace (1990- ); Chief Justice's Executive Committee; Police Complaints Commissioner (1995-). Interview conducted by Christine J.N. Kates. File includes six audio cassette recordings from a series of three interviews, a transcript with index (186 p.) and a copy of a release form.