The Hon. Robert Reid

Justice Robert Reid’s oral history traces his journey from small-town Ontario origins through military service as a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot in World War II to becoming a prominent Ontario judge and legal reformer. Born in Stratford, Ontario, to a Scottish-Irish optometrist father and English mother, Reid initially studied business at University of Western Ontario before serving as a pilot during WWII. He then pursued law at Osgoode Hall Law School beginning in 1946, establishing himself in private practice before his appointment to the bench.

As a judge in the 1970s and 1980s, Reid became known for his work in the Divisional Court and his expertise in administrative law. He presided over significant cases including Hughes Boat Works (which he considered his most important judicial review decision), the landmark School Prayers case (Zylberberg), and various matters involving pension rights, human rights, and administrative decisions. Reid developed a reputation for his direct writing style, judicial philosophy emphasizing natural justice, and approach to court supervision of administrative tribunals. His interview concludes with his plans to retire early from the bench to establish the Institute for Administrative Law, reflecting his continued passion for legal reform and his desire to address perceived defects in administrative law practice.

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