LogoutThe Hon. Joseph Sheard
Justice Joseph Sheard (1924-) recounts his path to the law following service in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, graduation from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1951, and early practice with his father-in-law Ernest Newson. He describes establishing a branch office in Campbellford, Ontario, where he gained valuable litigation experience in criminal and civil matters in small-town practice.
Sheard was appointed to the County Court bench in 1977, serving until mandatory retirement in 1999. He discusses the collegiality of the County Court, the disruption caused by court merger in 1990, and his transition from criminal to estates work in his later judicial years. Notable cases included obscenity prosecutions, the Westray mine inquiry, and numerous estate compensation matters.
The interview provides insights into the evolution of Canadian legal practice, including changes in divorce law, the advent of mediation, and reforms to estate law. Sheard reflects on formalism in will requirements and advocates for modernization to recognize testamentary intent. Since retirement, he has continued as a mediator in estate matters and member of the Pension Appeal Board.
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
- District Court
- Federal Court of Canada
- High Court of Justice
- Ontario Court of Appeal
- Provincial Courts
- Supreme Court of Canada
- Surrogate Court
- Osgoode Hall Law School
- University of Toronto Faculty of Law
- Attorney General of Ontario
- Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation
- Ontario Heritage Foundation
- Pension Appeal Board
- Public Guardian and Trustee
- Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Court Merger 1990
- Divorce Act Amendments
- Great Depression
- Westray Mine Explosion
- World War II
- Campbellford
- England
- Federal
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Toronto
- Balfour Drew & Taylor
- McCarthy Tétrault
- McMillan Binch
- National Trust Company
- R. v. Belanger
- Re Coate Estate
- Re Jeffrey Estate
- Re Shifrin Estate
- Vout v. Hay
- Westray Mine Inquiry
- Judge
- Ontario Superior Court
- Arnold Edinburgh
- Arthur Martin
- Aubrey Golden
- Bora Laskin
- Bruce Hawkins
- Caesar Wright
- Donna Haley
- Ernest Newson
- Frank Callaghan
- Gordon Killeen
- Hugh Locke
- Jack Ackroyd
- John Arnup
- John Falconbridge
- Joseph Sheard
- Keith Hoilett
- Leo Landreville
- Mabel Van Camp
- Maurice Cullity
- Ron Basford
- Susan Greer
- Walter Williston
- Canadian Bar Association
- County of York Law Association
- Law Society of Ontario
- Lawyers Club
- 1920s
- 1930s
- 1940s
- 1950s
- 1960s
- 1970s
- 1980s
- 1990s
- Administrative Law
- Constitutional Law
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law
- Divorce Law
- Estate Law
- Family Law
- Mediation
- Professional Responsibility
- Property Law
- Succession Law
- Tort Law
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 Joseph Sheard (b. 1924), County Court Justice (1977-). Interview topics include: family background; early education; World War II, Navy (1943); University of Toronto; Osgoode Hall Law School (1948-1951); articling, McMillan, Binch; legal associations; appointment to the Bench, County Court (1977); cases; estate cases; retirement. File includes four audio cassette recordings from a series of two interviews, a transcript with index (128 p.) and a copy of a release form.