The Hon. W. Dan Chilcott

This interview traces the distinguished legal career of Justice William Dan Chilcott, born in Ottawa in 1929. After attending Dalhousie Law School in the 1950s, he was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1954 and the Ontario bar in 1956. His early career included serving as an Assistant Crown Attorney in Ottawa and prosecutor in the Northwest Territories, before establishing a successful litigation practice in partnership with Ken Binks in 1958. The interview provides insights into criminal practice in the pre-Charter era, including capital cases, and the evolution of the legal profession during the mid-to-late 20th century.

Chilcott’s extensive involvement in legal governance is a central theme, particularly his service as a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada from 1979 to 1987 and as Treasurer from 1986-87. During his tenure, he advocated for greater transparency and openness in the Law Society’s operations, including opening Convocation meetings to the press and public for the first time. He discusses the tensions between protecting the public interest versus the profession’s interests, the introduction of specialist certification programs, and significant challenges during his time as Treasurer, including threats by Attorney General Ian Scott to remove the Law Society’s self-governing status.

The interview also covers broader themes in Canadian legal history, including court system reorganization and merger, the development of legal aid, the evolution of legal education, and the changing relationship between the organized bar and government. Chilcott’s appointment to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 1987 marked the transition from an active law practice to the judiciary, reflecting a career that spanned significant transformations in Canadian legal practice and administration.

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