Mr. Roydon Hughes

This extensive oral history interview captures the career and perspectives of Roydon Hughes, Q.C., a prominent Ottawa criminal defence lawyer who practiced from 1929 into the 1980s. Hughes provides a fascinating account of his early life as the second of twelve children, his responsibility for his siblings after his parents’ deaths in the 1920s, and his articling experience with Ottawa criminal lawyers Gauvreau and Burns. He practiced primarily criminal law during the Depression era when it was one of the few paying areas of law, often taking cases for promissory notes that were never collected.

Hughes recounts several significant cases from his career, including his defence work in the famous 1946 spy trials following the Gouzenko affair, where he represented Mazerall, Poland, and Nightingale. He discusses the controversial Royal Commission process and his criticisms of how the accused were treated. Other notable cases include the Sullivan murder trial where he successfully argued that the death was caused by a brain disorder rather than murder, the Virginia Ricks murder trial in Brockville, and the Delores Clow fraud case involving elaborate financial investigations.

The interview provides valuable insights into the evolution of Canadian criminal law practice, including changes brought by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the introduction of legal aid, the elimination of many technical defences, and evolving sentencing practices. Hughes discusses his philosophy of criminal defence work, his approach to jury trials, ethical dilemmas in practice, and his interactions with judges and police officers. He also reflects on the balance between career and personal life, having cared for his wife with Alzheimer’s disease and continuing to care for his developmentally disabled daughter.

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