Supreme Court Justice Peter Cory a Key Figure in Court's Evolution
Tribute to "The Caring Judge" at Osgoode Hall Law School Assembles Supreme Court and Appellate Justices, Leading Lawyers and Scholars

TORONTO, October 25, 1999 -- Supreme Court Justice Peter Cory, "the caring judge" has been a seminal figure in the shaping of Canadian jurisprudence in the lead-up to the new millennium. To honour his role and contribution to the nation's highest court, York University's Osgoode Hall Law School is hosting The 1999 Justice Peter Cory Conference on Wednesday, October 27.

Some of the most distinguished figures in Canada's legal community will assemble to pay tribute to Justice Cory, who retired in June. Among them are Supreme Court Justice Charles Gonthier, and the two Supreme Court Justices touted as possible successors to Chief Justice Antonio Lamer -- Justice Beverley McLachlin and Justice Frank Iacobucci. Justice Iacobucci will deliver the keynote speech, recalling his long, personal and professional association with Justice Cory during one of the most controversial periods in the court's history.

The conference will look in detail at how Supreme Court decisions influenced by Cory in the areas of criminal law, private law, and constitutional and public law have recognized the innate dignity of the individual while seeking to balance individual rights against the public good.

"Justice Cory was a central figure at the court, around whom majority positions came to be constructed," said Osgoode Hall Law Professor, Patrick Monahan, referring to the court's evolution toward Cory's reasoning on the equality rights section of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, particularly as it pertains to gays. In Vriend vs. Alberta, Cory wrote the majority opinion in which the province of Alberta's Individual Rights Protection Act was deemed a violation of the Charter for excluding gays and lesbians. This ruling overturned a 1995 Supreme Court decision that denied benefits to the longtime companion of James Egan, a gay man from British Columbia. Cory had dissented in that decision. The court has since ordered Ontario to change its definition of spouse to include same-sex couples, a ruling that is expected to dismantle the many laws across the country that deny benefits to same-sex couples.

The full-day conference will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Moot Court, room 101 at Osgoode Hall Law School, with opening remarks by Dean Peter Hogg. An agenda is attached.

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For further information, please contact:

Prof. Patrick Monahan
Osgoode Hall Law School
York University
(416) 736-5568
email: pmonahan@yorku.ca

Joanne Rappaport
Osgoode Hall Law School
York University
(416) 736-5515
email: joanner@yorku.ca

Susan Bigelow
Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22091
email: sbigelow@yorku.ca
YU/109/99

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The 1999 Justice Peter Cory Conference
A Tribute to the Honourable Mr. Justice Peter Cory of the Supreme Court of Canada

Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Osgoode Hall Law School
York University

Conference Agenda

Opening Remarks: Dean Peter W. Hogg

9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Justice Cory on Criminal Law
Panel Chair: The Honourable Mr. Justice Charles Gonthier
Supreme Court of Canada

Marlys Edwardh
Ruby & Edwardh

Brian Greenspan
Greenspan, Humphrey, Lavine

Dianne Martin
Osgoode Hall Law School

Hon. Marc Rosenberg
Court of Appeal for Ontario

10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 - 11:50 a.m.
Justice Cory on Constitutional and Public Law
Panel Chair: The Honourable Mr. Justice John Laskin
Court of Appeal for Ontario

Jamie Cameron
Osgoode Hall Law School

Hon. John Evans
Federal Court of Canada

Hon. Lyn Smith
Supreme Court of British Columbia

11:50 - 12:50 p.m.
Keynote Address - The Honourable Mr. Justice Frank Iacobucci
Supreme Court of Canada

Introduction by Dean Peter W. Hogg
Osgoode Hall Law School

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Lunch

2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Justice Cory on Private Law
Panel Chair: The Honourable Madam Justice Beverley McLachlin
Supreme Court of Canada

Hon. Eileen Gillese
Superior Court of Justice
(Ontario)

Hon. Allen Linden
Federal Court of Appeal

Hon. Dennis O'Connor
Court of Appeal for Ontario

Marilyn Pilkington
Osgoode Hall Law School

6:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Dinner - Convocation Hall, Osgoode Hall
Speaker: John Nelligan, Q.C.
Nelligan-Power