The Hon. Keith Hoilett

This extensive interview transcript covers Justice Keith Hoilett’s remarkable journey from his early life in Jamaica to becoming Ontario’s first federally-appointed visible minority judge. Born in Jamaica in 1933, Hoilett came to Canada in 1955 and attended Trinity College at University of Toronto, followed by law school at U of T. He articled at Thomson Rogers before joining the Crown Attorney’s Office under Henry Bull in 1966, where he served for 9½ years alongside colleagues like Eugene Ewaschuk and Kingsley Wijesinha.

The transcript reveals Hoilett’s unique path to the bench through his role as the first employee of Ontario’s Ombudsman Office in 1975, where he worked under Arthur Maloney and later Donald Morand. His major assignment was presiding over the North Pickering Land Inquiry, a two-year investigation that prepared him for judicial duties. In 1981, he was appointed to the County & District Court, making him Canada’s first federally-appointed visible minority judge.

The interviews provide valuable insights into the evolution of Ontario’s legal system, including court procedures, the role of Crown Attorneys, relationships with police and magistrates, and the social attitudes of the era. Hoilett discusses colorful legal personalities like Henry Bull and Judge S. Tupper Bigelow, as well as significant cases and the challenges of being a visible minority in the legal profession during a time of limited diversity on the bench.

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