The Hon. Walter Bell

This comprehensive oral history interview covers the life and career of The Honourable Judge Walter Bell of the Ontario Provincial Court. Judge Bell discusses his childhood in Toronto during the 1920s and 1930s, his education at University of Toronto Schools and the University of Toronto law faculty, and his service in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II from 1942-1946. He describes his early legal career, including articles and practice in British Columbia from 1948-1954, before returning to Ontario to practice civil litigation with the firm that became Poole, Bell & Porter in London, Ontario.

The interview extensively covers Judge Bell’s appointment to the Provincial Court bench in 1981 at age 57, his judicial philosophy, and his experiences during the early years of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He reflects on changes in the legal profession, including the increasing number of female lawyers, technological advances, and evolving court procedures. Judge Bell discusses his preference for criminal law over civil practice, his views on court reform including the elimination of preliminary inquiries, and his advocacy for consolidating non-jury trials in the Provincial Court.

Throughout the interview, Judge Bell provides insights into the evolution of Canadian legal practice from the 1940s through the 1990s, offering observations on legal education, professional relationships, court administration, and the broader justice system. His reflections reveal a traditional judicial approach influenced by English legal precedents and a commitment to maintaining established legal procedures and courtroom decorum.

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