George Burbidge
Encyclopedia
George Wheelock Burbidge (6 February 1847 – 18 February 1908) was a Canadian lawyer
, judge
and author
. After being admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 1872, he became a partner in a Saint John, New Brunswick
law firm. He is noted for having conducted the prosecution of Louis Riel
during his trial for treason
following the North-West Rebellion
of 1885. He subsequently had a distinguished career as a jurist, becoming on 1 October 1887 the first justice of the Exchequer Court, the predecessor to the modern Federal Court of Canada
. His 1890 book, A digest of criminal law of Canada, heavily influenced the groundbreaking Criminal Code of Canada
of 1892.
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...
, 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...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. After being admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 1872, he became a partner in a Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
law firm. He is noted for having conducted the prosecution of Louis Riel
Louis Riel
Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A....
during his trial for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
following the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
of 1885. He subsequently had a distinguished career as a jurist, becoming on 1 October 1887 the first justice of the Exchequer Court, the predecessor to the modern Federal Court of Canada
Federal Court of Canada
The Federal Court of Canada was a national court of Canada that heard some types of disputes arising under the central government's legislative jurisdiction...
. His 1890 book, A digest of criminal law of Canada, heavily influenced the groundbreaking Criminal Code of Canada
Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...
of 1892.