Hail To The Chief: McLachlin C.J.C. Becomes Canada’s Longest-Serving Chief Justice

Next month marks the bicentennial of the birth of Sir William Johnstone Ritchie, one of the first judges appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada and Chief Justice from 1879 to 1892. Why are we thinking about him this week? Until today, he was the longest serving Chief Justice of Canada. That title now belongs to Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, who has held the position since January 7, 2000. Having served on the Court for nearly a quarter century – most of that time as Chief Justice – her impressive legacy to date includes the development of the law in a wide and varied range of areas. She has also used her position to forge a remarkable degree of consensus on the Court and to publicly highlight important issues facing the administration of justice.