Leo Barry (Canadian jurist)
Encyclopedia
Leo Barry is a Canadian jurist and current Justice of the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador
.
Barry graduated from Memorial University (BA 1963, BSc 1962), Dalhousie Law School in 1967 and received a Masters (specialization in Jurisprudence and International Law) from Yale Law School
in 1968.
Prior to his judicial career, Barry was a Newfoundland
MHA
and Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
leader and Leader of the Opposition
from 1984 until 1987 when he was forced to resign as party leader due to opposition by his caucus.
Barry was initially elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
as a Progressive Conservative
in 1972. He served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly before being appointed to the Cabinet of Frank Moores
as Minister of Mines and Energy during which time he took a leading role in developmeing Newfoundland's oil and gas regulations. He was defeated in the 1975 provincial election
and served as chairman of the Newfoundland Labor Relations Board for until 1977 when he became a lecturer at Dalhousie University's law school in Halifax. In 1979, Barry returned to Newfoundland and contested the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party placing second to Brian Peckford
. He won a seat during the 1979 provincial election
and was appointed energy minister in Peckford's cabinet. Barry resigned from cabinet in 1981 due to a disagreement with Peckford over negotiations with the federal government over Newfoundland's claim to offshore resources. On Feb. 21, 1984, he crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party and became the party's leader later that year. As Liberal leader in the 1985 provincial election
he increased the number of Liberal seats from four to 15 in the 52 member House of Assembly.
Despite his initial success in increasing the Liberal Party's position, he was seen as aloof and arrogant and was not popular with his caucus
who saw him as unwilling to put all of his energy into the party. His position became less secure after the Liberals came in third place in two by-elections.
In February 1987, after Barry went on a week long trip to Boston without informing his caucus, he returned to be handed a letter signed by all 14 of his caucus colleagues demanding a leadership convention
. He initially refused to resign as party leader but agreed to allow a leadership convention in which he would be a candidate. He resigned as Leader of the Opposition on March 23, 1987 and then withdrew from the leadership race and resigned as party leader on April 28, 1987. Clyde Wells
was elected party leader in June and went on to lead the Liberal Party to victory in the 1989 provincial election
.
Barry returned to his legal practice and was appointed to the bench in 1989 becoming a judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2007, he was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Barry was a rumoured candidate to replace Supreme Court of Canada Justice Michel Bastarache
. However, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
nominated Thomas Cromwell
of Nova Scotia
to fill the vacancy.
Barry is one of two Court of Appeals judges to have been provincial MLA and provincial party leader; Clyde Wells
, the current Chief Justice of the appeals court, is the other.
Supreme Court of Newfoundland (Court of Appeal)
In the Canadian province Newfoundland and Labrador, the Court of Appeal is at the top of the hierarchy of courts for the province...
.
Barry graduated from Memorial University (BA 1963, BSc 1962), Dalhousie Law School in 1967 and received a Masters (specialization in Jurisprudence and International Law) from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1968.
Prior to his judicial career, Barry was a Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
MHA
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
and Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
leader and Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Newfoundland and Labrador)
The Leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.This list is incomplete...
from 1984 until 1987 when he was forced to resign as party leader due to opposition by his caucus.
Barry was initially elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
as a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
in 1972. He served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly before being appointed to the Cabinet of Frank Moores
Frank Moores
Frank Duff Moores served as the 2nd Premier of Newfoundland. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservatives from 1972 until his retirement in 1979.-Early life:...
as Minister of Mines and Energy during which time he took a leading role in developmeing Newfoundland's oil and gas regulations. He was defeated in the 1975 provincial election
Newfoundland general election, 1975
The 38th Newfoundland general election was held on 16 September 1975 to elect members of the 37th General Assembly of Newfoundland, the ninth general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party.-Results:...
and served as chairman of the Newfoundland Labor Relations Board for until 1977 when he became a lecturer at Dalhousie University's law school in Halifax. In 1979, Barry returned to Newfoundland and contested the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party placing second to Brian Peckford
Brian Peckford
Alfred Brian Peckford, PC served as the 3rd Premier of Newfoundland. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservatives from 1979 until his retirement in 1989....
. He won a seat during the 1979 provincial election
Newfoundland general election, 1979
The 39th Newfoundland general election was held on 8 June 1979 to elect members of the 38th General Assembly of Newfoundland, the tenth general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party.-Results:...
and was appointed energy minister in Peckford's cabinet. Barry resigned from cabinet in 1981 due to a disagreement with Peckford over negotiations with the federal government over Newfoundland's claim to offshore resources. On Feb. 21, 1984, he crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party and became the party's leader later that year. As Liberal leader in the 1985 provincial election
Newfoundland general election, 1985
The 41st Newfoundland general election was held on 2 April 1985 to elect members of the 40th General Assembly of Newfoundland, the 12th general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party.-Results:...
he increased the number of Liberal seats from four to 15 in the 52 member House of Assembly.
Despite his initial success in increasing the Liberal Party's position, he was seen as aloof and arrogant and was not popular with his caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
who saw him as unwilling to put all of his energy into the party. His position became less secure after the Liberals came in third place in two by-elections.
In February 1987, after Barry went on a week long trip to Boston without informing his caucus, he returned to be handed a letter signed by all 14 of his caucus colleagues demanding a leadership convention
Leadership convention
In Canadian politics, a leadership convention is held by a political party when the party needs to choose a leader due to a vacancy or a challenge to the incumbent leader.- Overview :...
. He initially refused to resign as party leader but agreed to allow a leadership convention in which he would be a candidate. He resigned as Leader of the Opposition on March 23, 1987 and then withdrew from the leadership race and resigned as party leader on April 28, 1987. Clyde Wells
Clyde Wells
Clyde Kirby Wells, QC was the fifth Premier of Newfoundland and was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1999 to March 2009...
was elected party leader in June and went on to lead the Liberal Party to victory in the 1989 provincial election
Newfoundland general election, 1989
The 42nd Newfoundland general election was held on April 20, 1989 to elect members of the 41st General Assembly of Newfoundland, the 13th general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada...
.
Barry returned to his legal practice and was appointed to the bench in 1989 becoming a judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2007, he was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Barry was a rumoured candidate to replace Supreme Court of Canada Justice Michel Bastarache
Michel Bastarache
J. E. Michel Bastarache is a Canadian lawyer, businessman, and retired puisne justice on the Supreme Court of Canada....
. However, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
nominated Thomas Cromwell
Thomas Cromwell (Canadian jurist)
Thomas Albert Cromwell is a Canadian jurist and current Puisne Justice on the Supreme Court of Canada. On September 5, 2008, Cromwell was nominated to succeed Michel Bastarache on the Supreme Court of Canada by Prime Minister Stephen Harper...
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
to fill the vacancy.
Barry is one of two Court of Appeals judges to have been provincial MLA and provincial party leader; Clyde Wells
Clyde Wells
Clyde Kirby Wells, QC was the fifth Premier of Newfoundland and was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1999 to March 2009...
, the current Chief Justice of the appeals court, is the other.