Anne Russell
Encyclopedia
Madam Justice Anne Helen Russell (May 22, 1940 — ) is a former judge
on the Alberta Court of Appeal.
Russell was born Anne Helen Lucas in Winnipeg, and studied Law at the University of Alberta
. She was appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta
in 1984, to the Court of Queen's Bench in 1992, and to the Court of Appeal in 1994. She served until her retirement in 2006. She is one of the few Alberta judges who have served on all three courts in the province.
One of the most famous judgments she delivered was on the case of Vriend v. Alberta
that she presided over on the Court of Queen's Bench. The case involved a dismissal of a teacher because of his sexual orientation
. She found in favour of Vriend, writing that the discrimination homosexuals suffer “is so notorious that [she could] take judicial notice of it without evidence.” The decision was overturned by the Alberta Court of Appeal, and then proceeded to the Supreme Court of Canada
where it was upheld.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
on the Alberta Court of Appeal.
Russell was born Anne Helen Lucas in Winnipeg, and studied Law at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. She was appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta
Provincial Court of Alberta
The Provincial Court of Alberta is a Provincial Court for the Canadian province of Alberta. The court oversees matters relating to criminal law, family law, youth law, civil law and traffic laws....
in 1984, to the Court of Queen's Bench in 1992, and to the Court of Appeal in 1994. She served until her retirement in 2006. She is one of the few Alberta judges who have served on all three courts in the province.
One of the most famous judgments she delivered was on the case of Vriend v. Alberta
Vriend v. Alberta
Vriend v. Alberta [1998] 1 S.C.R. 493 is an important Supreme Court of Canada case that determined that a legislative omission can be the subject of a Charter violation...
that she presided over on the Court of Queen's Bench. The case involved a dismissal of a teacher because of his sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
. She found in favour of Vriend, writing that the discrimination homosexuals suffer “is so notorious that [she could] take judicial notice of it without evidence.” The decision was overturned by the Alberta Court of Appeal, and then proceeded to the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
where it was upheld.