Joseph Z. Daigle
Encyclopedia
Joseph Zenon Daigle, BA
, BCL
, QC
born June 23, 1934 in Saint-Charles
, New Brunswick
, is a Canadian
lawyer and a former politician and Chief Justice of New Brunswick
.
Of Acadian
descent, Joseph Daigle was educated in his native New Brunswick, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
degree from St. Joseph's College and a Bachelor of Civil Law
degree from the University of New Brunswick
before studying public international law at the University of Paris
in Paris
, France
. He entered private practise in 1960 and served as a provincial court judge from 1967 until 1974 when he entered politics.
In the 1974 New Brunswick general election
, Joseph Daigle was elected to the Legislative Assembly
as the Liberal Party
candidate for the newly-created riding of Kent North
. In 1978 he became Leader of the provincial Liberal party and assumed the role of Opposition Leader
in the Assembly. In the 1978 election
, Daigle was personally reelected while leading his party to a narrow loss. His Liberals garnered 44.36% of the popular vote, just .03% less than the winning Progressive Conservatives
and captured twenty-eight seats to the Conservative's thirty.
Dissension arose within his caucus following the party's election loss in which 3.5% of the popular vote went to the Parti Acadien
, a party made up mainly of disgruntled former Liberals. Daigle resigned as leader and withdrew from political life, returning to the practice of law. In 1982, he was appointed Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick
and was named its Chief Justice in 1994.
Joseph Daigle was appointed Chief Justice of New Brunswick in 1998, serving until 2003 when he was elected supernumerary
status.
In 2004, the Government of Canada appointed Joseph Daigle as Chair of its Miramichi
and Acadie—Bathurst
Electoral Boundaries Commission that successfully dealt with what had become a contentious political issue.
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...
, BCL
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
, QC
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...
born June 23, 1934 in Saint-Charles
Saint-Charles, New Brunswick
Saint-Charles is a settlement in Kent County, New Brunswick....
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, is a Canadian
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...
lawyer and a former politician and Chief Justice of New Brunswick
Chief Justice of New Brunswick
The Chief Justice of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada holds the highest office within the Province's judicial system. He/she is part of the Court of Appeal, the highest court in the Province which includes five other judges plus any former judge of the Court of Appeal who is a supernumerary...
.
Of Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
descent, Joseph Daigle was educated in his native New Brunswick, receiving a 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...
degree from St. Joseph's College and a Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
degree from the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
before studying public international law at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He entered private practise in 1960 and served as a provincial court judge from 1967 until 1974 when he entered politics.
In the 1974 New Brunswick general election
New Brunswick general election, 1974
The 28th New Brunswick general election was held on November 18, 1974, to elect 58 members to the 48th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada...
, Joseph Daigle was elected to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
as the Liberal Party
New Brunswick Liberal Association
The New Brunswick Liberal Association , more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal Party or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major political parties in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
candidate for the newly-created riding of Kent North
Kent North
Kent North was a gay male pornographic actor who appeared in gay adult films and videos. His real name was Ben Grey....
. In 1978 he became Leader of the provincial Liberal party and assumed the role of Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (New Brunswick)
The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government....
in the Assembly. In the 1978 election
New Brunswick general election, 1978
The 29th New Brunswick general election was held on October 23, 1978, to elect 58 members to the 49th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Richard Hatfield's Progressive Conservative Party narrowly won its third term.In the lead up to...
, Daigle was personally reelected while leading his party to a narrow loss. His Liberals garnered 44.36% of the popular vote, just .03% less than the winning Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right political party in New Brunswick, Canada. It has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony...
and captured twenty-eight seats to the Conservative's thirty.
Dissension arose within his caucus following the party's election loss in which 3.5% of the popular vote went to the Parti Acadien
Parti acadien
The Parti Acadien was a political party in New Brunswick, Canada, in the 1970s and 1980s. The party was founded in 1972 by Acadians who were upset over poorer living conditions in predominantly francophone areas of the province versus those areas dominated by anglophones...
, a party made up mainly of disgruntled former Liberals. Daigle resigned as leader and withdrew from political life, returning to the practice of law. In 1982, he was appointed Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick
Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick
The Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick is the superior court of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.- Structure :...
and was named its Chief Justice in 1994.
Joseph Daigle was appointed Chief Justice of New Brunswick in 1998, serving until 2003 when he was elected supernumerary
Supernumerary
A Supernumerary is an additional member of an organization. A supernumerary is also a non-regular member of a staff, a member of the staff or an employee who works in a public office who is not part of the manpower complement...
status.
In 2004, the Government of Canada appointed Joseph Daigle as Chair of its Miramichi
Miramichi (electoral district)
Northumberland was a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1988. It was replaced by Miramichi riding, which has been represented in the House of Commons since 1988...
and Acadie—Bathurst
Acadie—Bathurst
Acadie—Bathurst is a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1867. Its population in 2001 was 76,392....
Electoral Boundaries Commission that successfully dealt with what had become a contentious political issue.