The Hon. Sydney Harris

This extensive oral history interview with Judge Sydney Harris provides a comprehensive account of his life and legal career spanning from his birth in Toronto in 1917 through his retirement in 1992. Born to Jewish immigrant parents, Harris pursued law at the University of Toronto (1934-1939) under professors like W.P.M. Kennedy, then attended Osgoode Hall Law School (1939-1942). After wartime government service in Ottawa and establishing his own practice, he formed a successful partnership with Harold Rubenstein (1949-1976), specializing primarily in criminal law.

Harris served as a Provincial Court Judge from 1976 to 1992, becoming known for his liberal approach to criminal justice and willingness to challenge vague legislation under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. His notable cases included R. v. Crouse (hate crimes), R. v. Brodzinski (male prostitution), R. v. Westergaard (domestic assault), R. v. Fetterley (incest), R. v. Glassman (obscenity), the Body Politic case, and R. v. Ciccarelli (hockey violence). He was also deeply involved in the Canadian Jewish Congress, serving as national president from 1974-1977.

Throughout the interview, Harris demonstrates his commitment to procedural fairness, his critique of prosecutorial and correctional practices, and his belief that judges should stick to the letter of the law while protecting individual rights. His judicial philosophy emphasized that legislation should be specific rather than leaving judges to interpret vague statutes, and he was particularly critical of the disconnect between sentencing and actual time served due to early release policies.

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