Mr. Kenneth Campbell

Kenneth Campbell provides a detailed account of his career as private secretary to multiple Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, beginning with his appointment to Sir Lyman Duff in May 1940. Campbell offers unique insights into the inner workings of Canada’s highest court, describing the procedures for scheduling cases, allocating judges, and the process of writing judgments. He discusses the physical facilities of the court building and the evolution of the law clerk system.

Campbell provides extensive biographical and professional assessments of numerous Supreme Court justices he worked with, including Abbott, Nolan, Martland, Judson, Ritchie, Hall, and Spence. His observations cover their backgrounds, judicial philosophies, writing abilities, and personal characteristics. He offers particular insight into significant appointments and missed opportunities, such as Martland being passed over for Chief Justice in favor of Laskin, and discusses controversial episodes like Justice Spence’s involvement in the Munsinger affair. The interview represents a valuable firsthand account of the Supreme Court’s institutional development during a crucial period in Canadian legal history.

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