Donald Brenner
Encyclopedia
Donald I. Brenner was a Canadian
judge
who served as the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of British Columbia
from 2000 until he stepped down from the position in 2009. In total Brenner spent more than 20 years as a member of the provincial Supreme Court. The Vancouver Sun called Brenner "the man who was most responsible for reforming the province's top trial bench."
Brenner was born in British Columbia
to a World War II
veteran and graduated from St. George's School
in Vancouver
in 1962. He obtained a commercial helicopter
pilot's license when he was eighteen years old. He joined Canadian Pacific Airlines
in 1966 as a pilot and finished his professional pilot career as a Boeing 737
captain.
Brenner obtained a bachelor's degree
from the University of British Columbia
and enrolled in law school
in 1967. He received a law degree
in 1970 and joined the bar in 1971.
In 1999, Brenner became chairman of the Supreme Court of British Columbia's litigation management committee. He also co-founded the B.C. Supreme Court's information technology
committee. Under Brenner, who became Chief Justice in 2000, the British Columbia Supreme Court adopted a code of civil rules, the first major change in the court's procedures since the 19th Century. The B.C. Supreme Court is also one of the technological in Canada, as Brenner spearheaded to move to adopt video conferencing, electronic filing systems, and adopt new litigation management systems. Brenner stepped down as Chief Justice in 2009 and was succeeded by Chief Justice Robert Bauman
.
Don Brenner died unexpectedly of natural causes on March 12, 2011, at the age of 64. He was survived by his wife, Robin, and two daughters.
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...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
who served as the Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Supreme Court of British Columbia
Supreme Court of British Columbia
The Supreme Court of British Columbia is the superior trial court for the province of British Columbia. The BCSC hears civil and criminal law cases as well as appeals from the Provincial Court of British Columbia. Including supernumerary judges, there are presently 108 judges...
from 2000 until he stepped down from the position in 2009. In total Brenner spent more than 20 years as a member of the provincial Supreme Court. The Vancouver Sun called Brenner "the man who was most responsible for reforming the province's top trial bench."
Brenner was born in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran and graduated from St. George's School
St. George's School (Vancouver)
St. George's School , of Vancouver, Canada is an independent boarding and day university-preparatory school for boys.-History:...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in 1962. He obtained a commercial helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
pilot's license when he was eighteen years old. He joined Canadian Pacific Airlines
Canadian Pacific Airlines
Canadian Pacific Air Lines was a Canadian airline that operated from 1942 to 1987. It operated under the name CP Air from 1968 to 1986...
in 1966 as a pilot and finished his professional pilot career as a Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
captain.
Brenner obtained a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
and enrolled in law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in 1967. He received a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
in 1970 and joined the bar in 1971.
In 1999, Brenner became chairman of the Supreme Court of British Columbia's litigation management committee. He also co-founded the B.C. Supreme Court's information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
committee. Under Brenner, who became Chief Justice in 2000, the British Columbia Supreme Court adopted a code of civil rules, the first major change in the court's procedures since the 19th Century. The B.C. Supreme Court is also one of the technological in Canada, as Brenner spearheaded to move to adopt video conferencing, electronic filing systems, and adopt new litigation management systems. Brenner stepped down as Chief Justice in 2009 and was succeeded by Chief Justice Robert Bauman
Robert Bauman
Robert Edmund Bauman is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 1st congressional district. Bauman was a prominent conservative advocate in the House, but lost re-election in 1980 following a political scandal involving male prostitution.-Early life and career:Bauman...
.
Don Brenner died unexpectedly of natural causes on March 12, 2011, at the age of 64. He was survived by his wife, Robin, and two daughters.