John Josiah Robinette
Encyclopedia
John Josiah Robinette, was a Canadian
lawyer who was one of Canada's premier legal authorities and litigators.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, he received a B.A. in political science from the University of Toronto
in 1926. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity
. He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School
and was called to the bar in 1929.
He joined the Toronto firm of McCarthy & McCarthy (now McCarthy Tetrault
) in 1949 and stayed until his retirement in the early 90s.
He became renowned as a barrister and was lead counsel in a number of prominent cases. In 1947, he appealed and eventually won the case of Evelyn Dick
after her conviction of the murder in 1946. He was lead counsel in the Patriation Reference
before the Supreme Court of Canada
. Robinette was also hired by opponents of the cancelled Spadina Expressway
in 1971 to make their case at the Ontario Municipal Board
.
He was appointed King's Counsel in 1944.
From 1958 until 1962 he was treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
In 1973 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
. He served as Chancellor of Trent University
from 1984 to 1987.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer who was one of Canada's premier legal authorities and litigators.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, he received a B.A. in political science from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1926. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
. He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
and was called to the bar in 1929.
He joined the Toronto firm of McCarthy & McCarthy (now McCarthy Tetrault
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault LLP is a law firm with offices in Canada’s major commercial centres and in London, UK. It provides business law, litigation, tax, real estate, and labour and employment law services....
) in 1949 and stayed until his retirement in the early 90s.
He became renowned as a barrister and was lead counsel in a number of prominent cases. In 1947, he appealed and eventually won the case of Evelyn Dick
Evelyn Dick
The murder trials of Evelyn Dick remain the most sensationalized events in Canadian crime history.Dick was born in Beamsville, Ontario. She was arrested for murder after local children in Hamilton, Ontario found the torso of her missing estranged husband, John Dick...
after her conviction of the murder in 1946. He was lead counsel in the Patriation Reference
Patriation Reference
Reference re a Resolution to amend the Constitution, [1981] 1 S.C.R. 753 – also known as the Patriation Reference – is a historic Supreme Court of Canada reference case that occurred during negotiations for the patriation of the Constitution of Canada.The Court affirmed the existence of...
before 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...
. Robinette was also hired by opponents of the cancelled Spadina Expressway
Spadina Expressway
The Spadina Expressway was a proposed north-south freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was only partially built before being cancelled in 1971 due to public opposition. It was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways for Metropolitan Toronto. Its cancellation prompted the...
in 1971 to make their case at the Ontario Municipal Board
Ontario Municipal Board
The Ontario Municipal Board is an independent administrative board, operated as an adjudicative tribunal, in the province of Ontario, Canada...
.
He was appointed King's Counsel in 1944.
From 1958 until 1962 he was treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
In 1973 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He served as Chancellor of Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
from 1984 to 1987.