Jules Deschênes
Encyclopedia
Jules Deschênes, was a Canadian
Quebec Superior Court judge.
Born in Montreal
, to Wilfrid Deschênes and Berthe Bérard, he completed grade school under the supervision of les Clercs de Saint-Viateur and classical studies under les Messieurs de Saint-Sulpice
. He graduated from the University of Montreal and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1946.
From 1946 to 1960 he practiced law. In 1961, he was named Queen's Counsel
. In 1962 he was elected to the Council of the Bar of Montreal
. In 1962 he started to teach law at the University of Montreal.
On January 8, 1964 he accepted to prosecute at the Commission of Inquiry into the famous Coffin affair
. In 1972 he was appointed a Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal. In 1973 he was appointed, by Pierre Trudeau
, Chief Justice of the Quebec Superior Court
. He served in this position for ten years.
From 1984 to 1987 he was involved with the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities. In 1985 he was appointed to head the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals in Canada
on alleged war criminals in Canada in which he officially reprimanded those special interest groups within the Jewish Canadian community whom, he wrote, had tabled "grossly exaggerated" claims about the number of alleged war criminals supposedly hiding in Canada. He submitted his report in 1986. He was the 102 president of the Royal Society of Canada
from 1990 until 1992. From 1993 to 1997, he sat on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
.
He published his autobiography, Sur la ligne de feu, in 1988.
He married Jacqueline Lachapelle in 1948. They had two daughters and three sons.
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...
Quebec Superior Court judge.
Born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, to Wilfrid Deschênes and Berthe Bérard, he completed grade school under the supervision of les Clercs de Saint-Viateur and classical studies under les Messieurs de Saint-Sulpice
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
. He graduated from the University of Montreal and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1946.
From 1946 to 1960 he practiced law. In 1961, he was named Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. In 1962 he was elected to the Council of the Bar of Montreal
Bar of Montreal
The Bar of Montreal is the bar association for lawyers in the city of Montreal, Canada. . It has it beginnings in 1693 when, as a Royal Province of the French colonial empire, Canadien lawyers first tried to obtain official recognition but were refused by Governor General of New France Louis de...
. In 1962 he started to teach law at the University of Montreal.
On January 8, 1964 he accepted to prosecute at the Commission of Inquiry into the famous Coffin affair
Coffin affair
The Coffin affair was an event in Canadian history in which a man named Wilbert Coffin was hanged for the murder of three men. The affair started in June 1953 in Gaspésie when three men from Pennsylvania were reported missing...
. In 1972 he was appointed a Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal. In 1973 he was appointed, by Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, Chief Justice of the Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court is the highest trial Court in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It consists of 144 judges who are appointed by the federal government.Chief Justices : [partial listing]* Edward Bowen...
. He served in this position for ten years.
From 1984 to 1987 he was involved with the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities. In 1985 he was appointed to head the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals in Canada
Deschênes Commission
The Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals in Canada, often referred to as the Deschênes Commission, was established by the government of Canada in February 1985 to investigate claims that Canada had become a haven for Nazi war criminals...
on alleged war criminals in Canada in which he officially reprimanded those special interest groups within the Jewish Canadian community whom, he wrote, had tabled "grossly exaggerated" claims about the number of alleged war criminals supposedly hiding in Canada. He submitted his report in 1986. He was the 102 president of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
from 1990 until 1992. From 1993 to 1997, he sat on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
.
He published his autobiography, Sur la ligne de feu, in 1988.
He married Jacqueline Lachapelle in 1948. They had two daughters and three sons.
Honours
- In 1977 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of CanadaRoyal Society of CanadaThe Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
. - In 1989 he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe 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...
and was promoted to Companion in 1992.