William A. McGillivray
Encyclopedia
William Alexander McGillivray (October 14, 1918 — December 16, 1984) was a lawyer
, jurist
, and a Chief Justice of Alberta
, Canada
.
, a politician and justice of the Supreme Court of Alberta Appellate Division
. He was educated at Victoria boarding school and a Calgary high school. McGillivray went on to receive Bachelor of Arts
and Bachelor of Laws
degrees from the University of Alberta
in 1938 and 1941 respectively. At law school, he graduated first in his class, and received the Horace Harvey
Gold Medal in Law. He was also an avid sportsman, achieving provincial champion status in both tennis and table tennis.
on June 23, 1942 and the Saskatchewan bar in 1965, and practiced in Calgary. He served as Bencher
of the Law Society of Alberta
from 1958–1969, and then as its President from 1969–1970, becoming Queen's Counsel
on December 31, 1957. He practiced in Calgary with the law firm of Fenerty, McGillivray, Robertson, Prowse, Brennan, Fraser and Bell.
In 1974, McGillivray was appointed directly to the position of Chief Justice of Alberta and was therefore, like his father, a justice of the Supreme Court of Alberta Appellate Division. Once on the bench, he was known for writing many reported criminal law judgments. He served in this position until his death in 1984.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, and a Chief Justice of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
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...
.
Early life
McGillivray was born in Calgary, Alberta to Alexander Andrew McGillivrayAlexander McGillivray (Alberta politician)
Alexander Andrew McGillivray was a lawyer and provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Calgary from 1926 to 1930...
, a politician and justice of the Supreme Court of Alberta Appellate Division
Court of Appeal of Alberta
The Court of Appeal of Alberta is an Canadian appellate court.-Jurisdiction and Hierarchy within Canadian Courts:The Court is the highest court in Alberta, Canada...
. He was educated at Victoria boarding school and a Calgary high school. McGillivray went on to receive Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degrees from 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...
in 1938 and 1941 respectively. At law school, he graduated first in his class, and received the Horace Harvey
Horace Harvey
Horace Harvey was a lawyer, jurist, and a Chief Justice of Alberta, Canada.-Early and Family Life:...
Gold Medal in Law. He was also an avid sportsman, achieving provincial champion status in both tennis and table tennis.
Career
McGillivray was admitted to the Alberta barLaw Society of Alberta
The Law Society of Alberta is the self-regulating body for lawyers in Alberta, Canada.-Purpose:The Law Society is created and governed by the . As a law society, the Law Society is much more than a professional association and every lawyer who practices in Alberta must belong to it...
on June 23, 1942 and the Saskatchewan bar in 1965, and practiced in Calgary. He served as Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of the Law Society of Alberta
Law Society of Alberta
The Law Society of Alberta is the self-regulating body for lawyers in Alberta, Canada.-Purpose:The Law Society is created and governed by the . As a law society, the Law Society is much more than a professional association and every lawyer who practices in Alberta must belong to it...
from 1958–1969, and then as its President from 1969–1970, becoming 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...
on December 31, 1957. He practiced in Calgary with the law firm of Fenerty, McGillivray, Robertson, Prowse, Brennan, Fraser and Bell.
In 1974, McGillivray was appointed directly to the position of Chief Justice of Alberta and was therefore, like his father, a justice of the Supreme Court of Alberta Appellate Division. Once on the bench, he was known for writing many reported criminal law judgments. He served in this position until his death in 1984.